Jacob's Family-Our Family: Blessed and Disfunctional

Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Dante's Vision of Rachel and Leah. 1855.

One of the dangers/benefits of interim ministry is that you can easily get away with pulling old sermons out of the barrel.   Serving three churches where there were two before me, I confess to having succumbed to that habit for a few months.  It got so I was afraid I would forget how to write a sermon.  Then the alternate continuous readings option came up in the lectionary.  And I knew I had to take this on.  I love these stories.  They are so real.

Of course when you preach these texts you have to tell the whole story.  The pericopes are not enough.  You cannot assume that everyone knows these stories anymore.  They do not.    Like last week the pericope ends with Jacob praising God and erecting a shrine after God appears to him in a dream promising to be with him and bring him back to his homeland.   It should have ended with Jacob saying "Yea well IF you do what you promise, then you can be my God"

Today's lesson should have ended with   "So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah" because that is the sad reality of this story.  Jacob has left one dysfunctional family for another.

As much as  I love telling these stories, when writing this sermon, I was stuck for awhile.  It's one thing to tell the story in an entertaining manner, but at some point you have to figure out what we are supposed to get out of this sad family mess?  Where is the good news?  

I perused around the net to see what other preachers had done with this story.  Mostly it's just a bunch of moralizing.  Don't be a cheater like Jacob and you won't be cheated.  Don't be jealous and bitter like Leah and Rachel.  Don't be like them and you'll have a better family life than them. 

Well sure yea, we know we shouldn't lie and cheat like Jacob.  We shouldn't play favorites with our children like Rebekah and Isaac.  And we shouldn't dress up our children like someone else to fool our husband or our new son-in-law.   But as much as we try to do the right thing, we screw up.  We make mistakes with our children.  Sometimes mistakes that cannot be undone.  We have to live with consequences of our mistakes.  And even when we do the best we can, our families don't turn out the the way we thought they would.

Maybe the good news is that nobody's family is perfect.  The big lie that too often gets told in the church is that if you love God and follow the rules, you will have a happy family.  But the hidden truth in our congregations is that people are living all kinds of damaged dreams in their families.  Some of it can't be fixed.  The good news of these stories is that damaged, dysfunctional families can be blessed.  The Good News is that God loves us even if we are not the pretty sister.  Here's how I ended my sermon:

Life is messy.  Families are messy.  Love isn’t always pretty.  But there is goodness in all of it.  You don’t get everything you want, life doesn’t turn out the way you planned, but if you look and are open to receiving it, you will see graces and blessings that God has sent your way.  Human love is not enough, but God’s love is more than enough for all. 

Ryan & Tatum - A Reality Show Worth Watching

I know, I know....Reality shows are bad for us.  It's all voyeurism.  Bad TV. Bad people for airing their dirty laundry for a few minutes of fame.   Bad networks for giving it to us.  Bad us for watching it.

But Ryan & Tatum: The O'Neals on OWN  is pretty compelling TV for me anyway.  It's about a dysfunctional family trying to come back together.   It's about forgiveness.  If you are going to be a voyeur (and come-- on we ALL are) - this is something to watch.  You have to hand it to Oprah (and OWN is her network) --she became an icon taking something that was probably bad for us and using it to educate us.

The short version of the sordid story of this family is that Tatum's father Ryan and mother broke up when she was very young.  For the first six years of her life she lived with her mother who was an alcoholic.  Ryan got custody of her and for the next several years it was just the two of them and they were very close.  Then he met Farrah Fawcett and nobody else existed for those two.  Not even their children.

Tatum never got over her father's abandonment and refused to speak to him for 25 years.  Her life spiraled out of control with substance abuse.  But she got sober, Farah died and father and daughter are trying to find their way back to one another.  On camera.  And it's pretty compelling TV.

Yes I know they are both actors and this could all be put on for our sake.  I can be kind of gullible (It took several episodes of "Pit Boss" before it occurred to me some of these situations HAD to be contrived and set up).

But it rings true.  Tantum is 47 years old and she is still desperate to please her father and worries about saying something to him that will make him mad.  Ryan thinks he's the victim and SHE abandoned him.  He says in all seriousness to his therapist that when he met Farrah "Tatum got left at the curb.  But I told her - STAY there and I'll come back and get you"  But of course she did not wait for him at the curb and he's still can't quite understand why.

 But they love each other and keep trying.  They go to therapy.  He goes to her AA meeting and is surprised that the people are there are "smart and good looking"   Ryan comes off as the clueless one here.  And yet he loves his daughter desperately and keeps trying and you have to admire that. 

This is  a story played out in countless families across the country.  If someone can watch this and get some insight, some understanding or some inspiration to reach out and repair a broken relationship, well ...isn't that what it is all about?

Bruschetta

I seem to be uninspired to rant these days. Perhaps trying to pastor THREE churches has something to do with it.  Ah but there IS always food.

I don't like raw tomatoes.  The tomatoes I grow in my garden are the paste variety and I cook them into a sauce and can them.  I think next year I will grow grape tomatoes to make bruschetta.

The best bruschetta is served at Romano's Macaroni Grill Italian Mediterranean Restaurant

Mostly I say that because I like that they serve big slices of shaved Parmesan cheese on top.  Of course MY brucschetta is the best.  This is what I do to raw tomatoes so that I will eat them:

2 Cup  Grape Tomatoes  -- fresh, diced.  This is rather labor intensive.  
3 Cloves Garlic,  diced
2 Tbl or so of Olive Oil
A little sugar
1 Tbl or so of Balsamic Vinegar
A few leaves of Fresh Basil, cut up
a little course salt
 French bread

Mix this all up in a bow.  Let it sit and marry for a few hours or if you are like me and can't wait, eat right away.


Slice the bread and butter it.  (it's better with REAL butter).  You can toast it in the toaster oven.  Or grill it.  Tonight I used my son's George Foreman Grill.  That worked really well.

 
Spoon the tomato mixture on the bread, drizzle the juice over the bread.  Top it with shaved Parmesan cheese - You can buy that now in containers or you can buy a hunk of Parmesan cheese and slice with a peeler.   Do not even TALK to me if you want to use that stuff in a can.
 
It's really wonderful.

Once I posted this recipe in a gardener's group and someone said she didn't use olive oil or sugar.  Or cheese.  Like she was so healthy.  Puleeze.  A little sugar to cut the bitter of the tomato (which is what I don't like) won't hurt.   And olive oil is good for you.   Everything in moderation.  And real food is always good.

Since Everyone Else seems entitled to have an opinion.....

Here are some of mine on the Casey Anthony case:

My own personal speculation is that the baby's death was an accident due to neglect, and someone besides Casey was in on the cover up.  I think probably the whole family is screwed up.

I think the justice system worked.

I think nobody benefited more from the death of Caylee Anthony than Nancy Grace.

Every year six million children die from malnutrition before their 5th birthday.  Millions more are sold into slavery. What would happen if we saw pictures of them on TV every night?  Would people do more turn on the porch light for them?

This is NOT Finland's National Anthem -

But wouldn't it be cool if it were?  The words were written by Lloyd Stone in 1934 to the tune of Finlandia

This is my song, Oh God of all the nations,

A song of peace for lands afar and mine.

This is my home, the country where my heart is;

Here are my hopes, my dreams, my sacred shrine.

But other hearts in other lands are beating,

With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.

My country’s skies are bluer than the ocean,

And sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine.

But other lands have sunlight too and clover,

And skies are everywhere as blue as mine.

Oh hear my song, oh God of all the nations,

A song of peace for their land and for mine.

May truth and freedom come to every nation;

may peace abound where strife has raged so long;

that each may seek to love and build together,

a world united, righting every wrong;

a world united in its love for freedom,

proclaiming peace together in one song.

Sofrito

Sofrito is a staple in Puerto Rican cooking.  It is what gives it a distinctive flavor.    Of course I would like it since it is made up of my favorite cooking staples~~  onions and peppers. This is my version:

1 Yellow onion

1/2 Red bell pepper

1/2 Green bell pepper

1/2 Jalapeno pepper

2 Cloves garlic

1 handful of cilantro

1 tbl olive oil

1/2 tsp cumin

2 TBl  Olive oil

1 Tbl Lime juice

Chop the vegetables up just enough to fit in the food processor.  You really need a food processor for this because you want this to all blend into a smooth sauce.  Throw everything into the food processor and blend until fairly smooth - like the picture.  

You can make up more and freeze it.   You can put this is stews and soups and sauces.  I like it on rice.

My Neighbors

Even though I have to drive an hour an a half just to shop at Target, I have some great neighbors:

 

There's the deer that come and hang out around dusk.  Five or six of them at a time, they make themselves right at home in my back yard. 

I first found this guy in my trash can.













 




And there was the Red Tailed Hawk fledgling that popped in one morning.

He was very loud and he pooped all over my front porch.

And in the pasture behind the barn - Black Angus cattle and their young uns

I guess you can go to Target anywhere, but neighbors like these are hard to come by.

Why I am Not a Member of the Amish Fan Club

I had an esteemed colleague who believed that there was more than just stinginess at play when congregations underpaid their pastors.  

He believed that at some level, some church folk believe the financial sacrifices of their clergy rub off on them vicariously.  You know like extra merit points in the Medieval Catholic system. (Ok maybe not so medieval)  

I think he was on to something.  I also think that is what is at play with this silly love affair Americans seem to have with the "idea" of the Amish.  Nobody wants to live as they do but the idea that there are some people living off the land, unsullied by the evil of the world in the world, just makes us all a little bit more holy.

Well that's a lot of horsepoo.  There is nothing romantic or holy about the Amish.  The fact is the Amish have just as big a problem with sexual abuse and covering up as the more vilified Mormon cults.  Just google Amish sexual abuse and you'll see the problem.  

Sorry I just find nothing romantic about patriarchal closed communities.

And the Amish are the largest operators of puppy mills.  You know those places where dogs are kept in unspeakably cruel conditions and then sold sick and unsocialized to unsuspecting customers? 

 I was ranting about this to my son and he said,  "And you blame ALL the Amish for this?"  Yes.  Yes I do.  

A community that requires conformity and shuns those who don't comply must also bear responsibility for the behavior of their whole community.

So no, I don't want to read the latest book about how forgiving and loving the Amish are. 

You Never Know How the Spirit Will Blow

So if it were up to me, I would be fine going my whole career having never conducted a Polka Mass. I could have ended my ministry never having to sing  "Please Forgive me" to the tune "Please release me..." (which isn't even a polka but more Country Swing)

But as those of us in the ministry know, it's not up to me.  People in the midwest LOVE their Polkas.  I like a good polka.  At a wedding or a beer garden.  But it's really just a matter of taste that I don't care for it in church. And worship is not just about my taste.  I get a kick out of people who insist worship can only be classical music or German chorales and criticize those who like rock or pop or polka music by saying "oh they think worship is all about emotion" without admitting that it's all emotion for them too-- they just get their jollies from different music.

So I showed up to lead the community polka service this morning.  Or I thought I was going to lead it.  Really the polka band was leading it.  Already my nose was out of joint.  No mike for me, no podium for me to preach.  Where am I supposed to preach from?  "Oh last year the pastor didn't preach."   Immediately I wished I had listened to my first instinct which was to take this Sunday for vacation.

I had about 15 minutes before my sermon to figure out how I was going to hold my sermon and bulletin in one hand (a sermon nobody wanted to listen to) and the mike in the other and preach standing behind the band.  When it came time to preach I just left my sermon folded up and talked about Pentecost and the gifts of the spirit and how the spirit brings us all together even though we are all from different churches.  Honestly I don['t know what I said.  I made few jokes which I NEVER DO and people even laughed.  

Whatever I said, people told me it was perfect.  The few people I admitted to that I just made it up five minutes before were amazed and said they had no idea it was off the cuff.

I'm not writing this to brag about how wonderful I am.  I'm not wonderful.  I don't do this sort off the cuff stuff.  I don't even like to pray off the cuff.  It was the Holy Spirit.  It blows where it will

But next week I'll go back to the manuscript.

And our Bishop IS the Coolest

And here's the proof - he and is wife were invited to a State Dinner at the White House - on his blog, Erik share's his dad's description of the evening.

Koinonia: Rubbing Elbows

Seriously, the Northeastern Iowa Synod is the Best Synod in the ELCA

Our bishop is too modest to say so, but he did keep saying that the future of this synod looks very bright and he's right.

I just got back from our Synod Assembly.  I've been to many assemblies in many synods and usually I leave thinking "well that's three days of my life I will  never get back" (except for the late night poker games in Wisconsin back in the late 80s but I digress) but I left today feeling good about the church, the ELCA and my synod.  

No fighting, no wrangling, no scolding, no politcking, just uplifting and encouraging stories about the mission.  



Some highlights

A touching and inspiring tribute by the Bishop for L. David Brown, the first Bishop of the Northeastern Iowa Synod.  I thought our present bishop was the coolest bishop ever.  No. Bishop Brown was the coolest bishop ever.  In 1961 the Rev. Martin Luther King jr. was invited to speak at the ALC Youth Convention.  Then some of the bigwigs of the church though it best to uninvite him.  King uninvited himself, not wanting to be the cause of controversy.  It was Brown who talked him into coming.  He really was a remarkable man, you can read more information about him here: L. David Brown.  But it was really touching hearing our bishop speak of him because he always gets emotional about these things.

A keynote by one of our own, Pastor Steve Brackett who spoke of how his ministry at St. Paul in Postville led up to them being prepared to respond to the crisis when ICE raided the town.  I just think it was so cool to hear from one of our own, to remind us that WE are doing the work of God, here, in Podunk Iowa.

We also heard from the Rev. Twila Schock Director for Global Mission Support, ELCA, reminding us that yes, the ELCA is still doing Global Mission.

Our synod is one of the pilot synods to support the ELCA Malaria Campaign. We passed a resolution with a goal to raise $350,000 for the Malaria Campaign in three years.  We had people dressed up like farm animals holding a mosquito net to take pledges.  I mailed my pledge in last week.  I didn't know we were going to have an opportunity to throw it in a net held by people dressed up like farm animals.  I feel a little cheated.  Kind of like on 9/11/01 when everyone was giving blood--I couldn't because I had given blood the week before.  By the time the synod was over we had $60,000 in gifts and pledges.  

We passed a new synod structure, pretty much doing away with committees that meet because it says in the by laws they need to meet.  We are going to do business through networks and task forces.  Not sure how it's going to work, but I think it's pretty exciting that we are blazing the way.  And it passed with nary an argument.  Which I credit to the synod doing good work on educating folks about it beforehand and the fact that people pretty much trust the synod.  So different than the days in some synods (Ahem....WESTERN IOWA) where you couldn't even pass a budget without folks arguing and questioning nearly every line item. 


And because we did not spend time arguing, we had time at the end to have people come to the mike and tell the stories of mission going on in their congregations. 


There was nary a word about sex at this assembly.  Because the sad hard truth is that pretty much anyone that is unhappy about the sexuality statement or ministry recommendations has left the synod.  A lot of congregations and pastors have left.  We are a smaller synod with less money to work with.  But we are moving forward doing good stuff, instead of arguing about sex.  It's a good thing.

When Justice Becomes a Reality Show

If you are in the US and you have the TV on at all you will have heard of Casey Anthony a 25 year old who is accused of killing her three year old girl and then going to a party.  (That going to the party afterwards is what really seems to piss people off)

I've been wanting to ignore this because...

a) Nancy Grace has a lot to do with it and I can't stand that judgmental, manipulaitive, exploitive...um, woman

b) I refuse to get sucked into the national pasttime of  playing jury. and deciding the guilt or innocence in cases we really know nothing about but we think we do because Nancy Grace has told us what to think

c)  Between my soft spot for screwed up single mothers and penchant for taking the side of the underdog, I don't want to believe she's guilty but even her parents think she did it ...and that's a bad sign.

It's her defense that is so disturbing.  She's claiming that the baby drowned in the pool and she didn't tell anyone and went to parties because she is screwed up because both her father and brother sexually abused her.

If she wasn't hated before, that defense has really pissed off the peanut gallery.  How dare she accuse this wonderful family of such a horrible thing?  If she's lying about that, that's a terrible thing to do to your own family.  And it's a terrible thing to do to real victims because it makes it even harder for others to be believed.

But but but....this happens in so called "wonderful families".  And it screws up people.  It would explain her behavior.   And I keep hearing "It can't be true because why would she let her father and brother near her daughter if they did that to her?"  Why indeed.  But it happens.  Victims serve up their own children to their abusers.

Not that all sexual abuse victims party after their babies accidentally drown. And she could just be a truly awful person.

But it's also possible she's telling the truth.  I'm just saying.  We don't know what happened.  A jury is going to have to decide what is justice for this world.  In the end, God will decide ultimate justice.  But let's not make Nancy Grace anymore rich or famous over this perverted tragedy.

Oprah

 

Cam Cardow/The Ottawa Citizen politicalcartoons.com

I liked the Oprah Winfrey show.  Especially after she got away from delving into people's personal lives.  I'm sorry she invited that genre of encouraging people to spill their personal problems and allow an audience of strangers to make commentary and judgments.  I'm sorry she gave Dr. Phil that job.

But she really is the best interviewer, she asks interesting questions and  can get the person to open up better than anyone else.  I liked watching her and Gayle go on a road trip.  I even bought some books just because she liked them.

I had to turn off her second to the last show, even though I liked a lot of her special guests.  I felt like it had turned into worship of Oprah.  But on reflection I thought it's really no different than a retirement or ordination of anniversary party of a colleague, where your friends get up and say nice things about you.  It's just that we don't have as many friends or friends who are as dramatic.

The New York Times has an interesting critique of her spirituality.  The Church of Oprah Winfrey and a Theology of Suffering.  I think it's on the money.  Once when she got on the band wagon of that ridiculous book "The Secret" that claims if we just have enough positive energy only good things will come our way, I wrote a newsletter article debunking it.

But honestly, someone with good Lutheran theology is not going to have a TV show that reaches as many people as Oprah does.  That's the ELCA's job ;-).  But having a message about not being a victim, taking care of yourself, being honest, being true to yourself, doing good for others reach that many people...in this world?  I'll take it.  Well done, Oprah.

Rhubarb Chicken Curry

Yes I have a LOT of Rhubarb and if you don't have a lot you might want to save it for the desserts...but this was REALLY REALLY good. ( I think even Annabelle who hates Rhubarb would like it)  This is my own made-up recipe.

Four boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut up, seasoned to your taste and sauteed in a little olive oil.

2 Tbl olive oil

1 onion, chopped

1/2 red bell pepper chopped

1 clove garlic chopped

1 cup rhubarb, chopped

1/2 cup craisins.

2 carrots, chopped

1 cup chicken stock

1/4 cup white wine

1/4 cup apricot jam

1/4 cup brown sugar (more or less)

1 -2 tbs curry powder

1/2 tsp cumin

a pinch of cayenne pepper if you like a little heat.

salt, pepper to taste

Saute onions and pepper in olive oil until onions are transparent.  Add garlic and rhubarb and cook on med-low for a few minutes.  Add wine, jam, sugar, spices and stir and cook another few minutes.  

Taste it before you add the sugar and add the sugar to your liking.  I prefer a sweeter taste but you make like the tarter flavor.  Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil, then lower the heat and cook until it turns into a sweet sticky mess.  Add the chicken and serve over rice.  You will see rice in the pan in my picture.  Usually, I have good luck cooking rice with the liquid in these kinds of dishes but I could not get that rice to cook so cooking the rice separately is probably a better bet.

I had a few stalks of asparagus that I picked from the yard and were not enough to serve on their own so I chopped those up and put it in there too but I don't think you could notice them.

I'm Still Here, so What?

Well we all had a good laugh.   And of course I got scolded for laughing.   I wonder if all the people who like to scold on Facebook and twitter dare scold people that much in person?

Well I won't scold.  But I do think what got lost in this joke were the victims of Harold Camping.  A lot of people gave up their jobs, their families, their bank accounts, their lives to follow him and preach his "gospel".  Why would they do that?  Because their jobs, their families, their bank accounts and their very lives gave them no purpose or meaning.  They had no hope and Harold Camping gave them a false hope.  He promised them all their problems would go away today.  And now they have even more problems and no hope at all.  And  it is going to be very difficult for them to listen to anyone who calls themselves a Christian.

So no, it's not really very funny.  It makes our jobs as proclaimers of hope to the hopeless that much more difficult but that much more crucial.    

And are we in the mainstream church all that different than Harold Camping?  Maybe we don't offer an exact date but are we offering some far off pie in the sky instead of real hope and purpose and meaning to people  who having difficulty seeing meaning in their lives today?

I'll never forget the question of a friend whose brother died around Easter.  "Christ is risen" she said, then asked "So what?"

We can't just say "Christ is risen"  We have to answer the question, "So what?"

Sojourners Can't Decide if it's a Good Idea to Welcome Gay Families to Church

I've always had trouble Sojourners.  I would subscribe to their magazine, enjoy a few articles and then get put off by their legalistic tone (yes, friends, Liberals can be legalistic, self-righteous jerks too).  I think they really do think we can save ourselves by being pacifists and giving up stuff for the poor.  That sort of thing always rubs this Lutheran the wrong way.

Well according to Rev Robert Chase in this article LGBT “Welcome” Ad Rejected by Sojourners, Nation's Premier Progressive Christian Org   Sojourners doesn't want to take sides on welcoming gay families to church. 

I find it really strange that an organization that can be so sure of itself and so self-rightous about some things (these are the same kind of people scolding people for being happy about Bin Laden's demise) can't make up their minds about God and homosexuality.  Gee I hope it's not a cynical move to keep evangelical folk who are socially conservative but socially progressive in the movement.  


But even if say, you can't make up your mind about Gay marriage...you can't take a side about WELCOMING gay families in the church?   


Well this is how I feel about that:

So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth -Revelation 3:15

Mother's Day Prayer - Repost

A lot of people found this prayer helpful last year - I offer it again to use as you wish.


Mother's Day Prayer

Okay, when I said you all were arrogant,....I didn't mean YOU

So I guess I ruffled a few feathers I said "But those people spouting 'Love your enemies' are just as arrogant and they need to show a little love and forgiveness for those sinners who relish a little revenge".  I guess a lot of people, some of whom I don't even know, thought I was talking about them. 

Like Kevin Blaug at Country Preacher whose FINE essay on "Why I will not celebrate the death of Bin-Laden" was posted on the ELCA blogsite "LivingLutheran"  at the same time mine was.  Just for the record, I agree with what he wrote and I don't think he's arrogant. (And I'm pretty sure I wrote my blog before he even wrote his)

(One little rant before I go-- so someone comments about MY blog on HIS blog.  To that person - You got something to say to me?  Grow a pair and say it to ME!)

Let me get a few things straight.  I WAS NOT out in the streets shouting "USA USA" when Osama died.  I don't do that.  Even at sports events.  But I don't think people who do are horrible people or even bad Christians.  Well actually I think we are ALL bad Christians.  That's kind of my point.  That's why I'm Lutheran.  That's why I really really appreciate grace. 

But I was probably unfair.  Maybe all those people tweeting "Love your enemies" were just fed up with all the celebrating they were seeing.  I don't  follow USA USA people on Twitter or have a lot of  friends like that on Facebook.  Precisely because I don't want to read that crap.    So all I was seeing was Love your enemies, blah blah blah.  And when someone spouted "I don't find the death of a human being funny" after I made a joke about Trump demanding the death certificate, I'd had enough.  COME ON!.  How aggravating to learn that liberals can be just as uptight and self-righteous as right wingers.

The fact is, we all choose the enemy we will/can love.  What's worse, we get proud about loving that enemy, blind to the enemy we cannot/will not love, and judge others who make a difference choice about who they can or cannot love.   I DO IT TOO!

The good news is that we are not saved by loving our enemies. That doesn't mean we shouldn't try to love the bastards.  But maybe we all need to spend a little more time on the logs in own eyes before tweeting about someone else's specks.

ELCA Malaria Campaign

You can download this 5 minute video to show your congregation, council, women's meeting, whatever from the ELCA.  There's also a 2 minute version if you have an even shorter attention span than me.

On Celebrating the Death of Our Enemy

Don't worry, I'm not going to scold you if you are.  It's complicated.

The first thing that strikes me is how I found out about the death of Osama Bin Laden I logged onto Facebook and read it on everybody's status.  THEN I turned on the news.  This is what life is like today.

It was on Twitter that I was subjected to all tweets quoting "Love your enemy"  blah blah blah.  I was even scolded because I made joke about Trump wanting a death certificate. Sorry I thought it was funny - so did most of my Facebook friends.  Another thing I learned.  I have more uptight friends on Twitter than Facebook.

It's all very easy to quote Jesus about loving your enemy when you are not responsible for protecting an entire country against someone who would destroy the nation.  I know my history.  And Christians were pacifists UNTIL they were in charge.  Then it was more complicated.     It seems to me only Amish get to be real pacifists.  And even their freedom to not participate in this society is protected by people who are willing to kill our enemies.

I don't rejoice in the death of Bin Laden or anybody.  But I surely am not going to cry over it.  Nor am I not going to make jokes.   And it did make me feel good to see Americans pulling together and spontaneously gathering and celebrating, even if it was the death of a human being.  Yes some of it was about revenge, plain and simple.  But I think of it was relief and a sense that in some way, this brings 9/11 to some sort of close. 

Bin Laden was a symbol of our weakness, our vulnerability.  Of course we are kidding ourselves to think this is the end of terrorism.   And there will no doubt be reprisals.


And when the crowds dissipate it will be life and bickering as usual.  And we will have to confess that we are weak and vulnerable.  But those people spouting "Love your enemies" are just as arrogant and they need to show a little love and forgiveness for those sinners who relish a little revenge.  Because life is complicated.