Ponderings

Sometimes I wish my eyes hadn’t been opened.
Sometimes I wish I could no longer see
All of the pain and the hurt and the longing of my
Sisters and me as we try to be free.

Sometimes I wish my eyes hadn’t been opened,
Just for an hour, how sweet it would be
Not to be struggling, not to be striving,
But just sleep securely in our slavery.

But now that I’ve seen with my eyes, I can’t close them,
Because deep inside me somewhere I’d still know
The road that my sisters and I have to travel:
My heart would say, “Yes” and my feet would say “Go!”

Sometimes I wish my eyes hadn’t been opened,
But now that they have, I’m determined to see:
That somehow my sisters and I will be one day
The free people we were created to be.
(Words and Music By Carol Etzler, 1974 published by Sisters Unlimited, RR 1 Box 1420, Bridgeport, VT 05734)

These words are the lyrics to a folk song written by Carole Etzler three decades ago, just as edgy today as they were when first sung. Although Carole is writing about the specific awareness of her lesbian sisters, she speaks to a truth that is much broader. Inclusion begets inclusion.

At their most recent congregational meeting, Epiphany UCC (Benton Park) adopted a statement becoming a “Whole Earth” church. As their pastor, Mary Albert was sharing, they have discovered that becoming open to one arena of justice, additional vistas came into view. Epiphany is an Open and Affirming, Just Peace, Whole Earth congregation. Although the labels are a bit daunting, the commitments to which they bear testimony are laudable.

In fact, in our own journey as a congregation we have discovered this same truth about the effects of inclusion. Wanting to be inclusive of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters, we realized that we were excluding those in wheelchairs. Out came a pew, and then another. Committed to making our facilities accessible, we discovered that our operating structure needed to shift to be more inclusive of folk not able to make monthly meetings. As we prepare for our sixth year at Pride (amazing!), we are intentional about not GLB and T (transgender) concerns, but have found a new way to be inclusive of our kids with Children’s Bulletins (thank you, Leslie!!!).

One of the most challenging areas is that of theological inclusivity. The desire to have an open table theologically may itself be the gift of liberalism, but our table is not complete unless and until a range of perspectives have gathered. For some of us the sacred is “Christ”, for some a higher power suffices, for still others Yahweh or Holy One are most comfortable. Although we come to the table experiencing the presence of the sacred in our midst, for some it is the body and blood and for some the bread and cup represent the community gathered.

Every time I begin whine about being stretched, I am reminded of Jesus’ friends. Surely, they were made of rubber as they learned to stretch and grow. Following their example, folk like Carole Etzler (now Eagleheart) continued to push the boundaries. Now it is our turn.

Immersed in another election cycle (which started much too soon!), we are being invited to again bludgeon one another in the name of God. The witness of communities like ours will be incredibly important as we seek to move through this season with a modicum of grace. Each week we gather and practice holding our stones, learning to live with ambiguity and dissonance, discovering beauty in diversity.

But now that I’ve seen with my eyes I can’t close them… my heart would say, “Yes!” and my feet would say, “Go!”