Connections

I have been in quite a panic.  Having a cell phone is essential to being a delegate in Portland.  I use it for everything-- from keeping in touch with the delegates who need a break and the progress of legislative pieces in committees, to finding an uber driver and scouting out the next place to eat (after last night's choice, however, I could use some improvement in this area!)  Anyhoo, I don't remember 8 years ago being so dependent on these communication devices.

Panic set in when I discovered that my charge cord to my iPhone was broken.  Wires were splayed into two pieces.  A major dysfunction.  No more power to the phone, means no more communication, means no more life as I have known it.  Anyone who is addicted to their smartphone is feeling my pain.

Last night was painful my friends, not because of any smartphone, but because of the way Christians are talking to one another, the choice of words, the closed hearts and the implications of the legislation that is being passed.  When a piece of legislation only passes by 3 votes to say that on behalf of the UMC we reject the "criminalization of homosexuality", we have lost our souls.  No one should be thrown into jail for being gay.    And no matter where one falls on the spectrum of sides of the big elephant "issue" in the room, we are all feeling the tension.   I have witnessed how polarized we are as a denomination on the understanding of where and how and IF the UMC will embrace or reject LGBTQI people.   Now what is happening is any legislation that mentions anything remotely LGBTQI it is automatically rejected by some of the voters.  The initials have become a reason to reject, no matter what the petition is saying.

In my mind I see this broken cord, a cord that is no longer able to give power to church.  And yet today is Pentecost.  I honestly don't know what the Holy Spirit is going to do with us as she blows through the life of our gathering.  I feel a major change coming.  People are frustrated beyond belief.  I am trying not to exaggerate the feelings, but I have never witnessed so much pain and numbness to the "other".

My prayer is to stay in the moment.  This pain maybe necessary to birth something new that can give life to people who no longer can live in communion in policy and theological understanding.  I do believe that no one has a corner market on God, and that together we are probably closer to discerning what God has in mind for this present day in living out our beliefs of resurrection.

I refuse to fear change.  I do however, need a new cord both figuratively and spiritually, to plug into power.  May it be so.