After limiting my exposure to the news and social media for health and sanity reasons, tonight at 11 PM I checked in after finishing some writing and there it was: “Trump insults heckler’s weight.”
The portly president telling someone in the crowd they could stand to lose a few pounds? I flash back to his comments about ”horse-face” women and his ruthless pantomime of a handicapped person.
Clearly, acting “presidential” has been left behind long ago,
But instead of screaming, I just feel like crying.
Every single day, there is another outrage, a new insult, another scathing blow to an individual or group. My reaction is visceral.
When I try with all my heart to listen to 45’s supporters, the vast majority of the time they start talking about Obama. Where can you possibly go with that?
If I wanted to, I have the lessons to work with on Sunday to blast away at the Washington insanity. The Gospel talks about Jesus promising to bring division, not peace. In fact, he’s furious, almost out of his mind with anger about what he has to go through and the state of the world.
Me too.
I am so defeated by the constancy of it all that I am worn down, like I have PSTD. So I will focus on to the equally-scathing epistle (talk about violent language!) with its beautiful concluding words about the “cloud of witnesses,” that is people who have helped us know how to live. Three people who exemplify character, courage and creativity for me: “A Nun, a Bishop, and a Sinner”. Not one of them meek and mild.
The thing is, there are people who are upset on Sundays if the preacher isn’t traditionally “spiritual” enough and gets into political* (I would say moral) territory. There are others who are upset if the preacher ignores it. There are people who see church as a refuge from the world and others who see it as a place to confront the world.
So you say a few prayers, lead with the Gospel and follow the prompting of the Voice within that you just can’t ignore. None of us is cavalier about this, I assure you. We agonize over these decisions.
See you in church.
Barbara
(*And if you’re worried about these words are too “political,” expect a little tutorial Sunday on the separation of church and state. I’ve done research.)
