He's coming. To Kansas City. Tonight. It is a gray, dull, drizzly day here, which is fitting. As though Mother Nature herself conspired to dress appropriately for the orgy of hatred that is unfolding across the prairie. Nay, across all the land.Yes, I said "nay." Sorry, something about that man makes me draw up Elizabethan-speak from the bottom of my English major soul. Something wicked this way comes...But enough about him. It's not about him. As we well know, he is just a mouthpiece. A … [Read more...]
No Tribe But Ours: A Refugee Story
March 9, 2016 by Leave a Comment
I really just carried the fruit basket... But I'll tell you about that in a minute.While Kansas, Arizona, and other states draft fresh, angry legislation to keep refugees from entering their boundaries, hundreds of families are quietly coming to resettle in an American city near you.And 99.99% of them are not terrorists. Despite what some politicians would have you believe.My congregation, like many faith communities, has been deeply moved by images and stories of refugees around the … [Read more...]
The Unfriend Trend: Why You Should Stop Ditching All the Trump Supporters
March 4, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Maybe Jerry Falwell, Jr was right. Donald Trump IS, in fact, like Jesus Christ. At least, in one major way. He has come to set father against son, mother against daughter, and mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law. In many cases, our enemies are members of our own household." Further, nation shall rise up against nation. He comes not to bring peace, but a sword. Dear Mr. Trump--I do not think that means what you think it means.But he's beside the point. Sort of. Fact is, this whole c … [Read more...]
Shed a Little Light: Observing MLK Day
January 18, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Thanks, readers, for sharing your observations of Martin Luther King day. I've enjoyed your pictures and your words of wisdom. I love the ways people capture the spirit of this day in art, song and story. And mostly, I enjoy seeing how communities of faith, and communities in general gather around on this day to listen and learn, to sing and celebrate, to mourn and cast a hopeful vision forward together. Here are some inspiring glimpses from MLK day around the … [Read more...]
Still, Always: What Alan Rickman Really Gave Us
January 14, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Many of the miracle stories in the gospels have a common denominator: the hush factor. After performing a sign or a wonder, Jesus would often tell onlookers, or the recently healed leper/lame/blind man, that they were to "Say nothing to anyone."Biblical scholars have argued for millennia as to why that might be. Unable to fully explain it, they did what biblical scholars do and they came up with a big fancy name for this phenomenon so that people would stop asking them hard questions. They ca … [Read more...]
5 Real Reasons You Want to Win the Lottery: But Mostly Why You Don’t
January 11, 2016 by Leave a Comment
If I won the lottery, I would not buy a fancy house or car. I would not quit my job. I would not trade in my kids or spouse for robot versions that always do what they're told.I would, however, go on vacation to wherever, whenever I wanted. I would not be at the mercy of Southwest sales, "off-peak season" deals, or my husband's hotel employee discount.Also, you'd better believe I would have a housekeeper. Possibly of the live-in variety, like Alice on the Brady Bunch.And then I would … [Read more...]
What Faith and Freedom Demand
November 17, 2015 by Leave a Comment
I had no idea...I had no idea that so many people were total experts on the Middle East and U.S. Foreign Policy. I had no idea that so many people have such a profound grasp on the complexities of MILLENNIA of religious strife, extreme poverty, harsh climate and tyrannical, extremist politics. But a quick scan of the newsfeed--not to mention the comments section of any given article on the internet--assures me that, in fact, PLENTY of people know. all. about it.Trouble is, their … [Read more...]
Liberals Love America Too
November 11, 2015 by Leave a Comment
We rail against gun culture, the gross injustice of capitalism, and the disintegrating lines between church and state. Some may say, for these reasons and others, that we hate America. But I've got a secret for you: I'm going to whisper it so I don't have to turn in my lefty hippie commie card...Liberals are patriotic. For real though. In fact, most of us would argue that we hold the values above BECAUSE we love our country. We love equal opportunity, and government free from the tyranny … [Read more...]
Lost in the Crowd
November 7, 2015 by Leave a Comment
It's been a big week in Kansas City. Following the Royals' World Series win, we pretty much shut down the city for a few days. Standing in a sea of half a million people (which later counts put closer to a million) with zero visibility, limited access to food and restroom facilities--all after waiting in hours of traffic just to get there --DOES NOT SOUND LIKE MY IDEA OF A FUN TIME. However, the people who did venture out for the victory parade were ecstatic. They said it was a memory their f … [Read more...]
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