Richard Mallory

Religious leaders accused,
culture made excuses,
politicians gave orders,
people in the streets went along,
friends left him to the system,
and the army pounded nails.
Who do you blame for that?

We live in a cross-shaped world
that believes in the expedience
of other people’s pain.
The most injurious to God
are those with good reasons.

Even the most powerful
have only the power someone gave them.
What evil have I helped to empower?
What part of me helped create this evil?
Am I ready for it to be healed?

Just as we found ways, working together,
to do evil,
it will take a lot of us working together
to do good.
—The Rev’d Steve Garnaas-Holmes

Dear Friends of and in Christ Jesus,

The final two lines of this poem point to the preferred response to the Resurrection. Indeed, these times do require great numbers of people “working together to do good.” At the risk of being labeled a “do gooder,” (which , if used, originates in a cynical state of mind), finding one’s niche for service is always a “next step” in choosing to embrace resurrection energy in one’s life.

Saint Philip’s mission statement, worth memorizing by each one of us, goes like this, “Gathered in Love. Transformed by Grace. Sent to Serve.”  Three strong verbs: gathered, transformed, and sent. Three states of being: love, grace, and sent.  

Even if one is not feeling particularly lovable or loving towards others (the two often go together—not loving self or anyone else!), remember to be open to the possibility of getting there. Let your intention be to get there. Back there where you belong. That you are lovable and capable of giving love to those around you in life. We don’t do this work alone. The Resurrected Christ is there to come along side you and that’s the grace of the matter. If you are not feeling that presence, be open to the possibility of it. Always check out with yourself if you are in any way hindering or blocking that presence. This undertaking must always be done in compassion. No lecturing of oneself. No pestering. No carping. Just simple curiosity.

Just as in all the stories of healing, the healing is not just for oneself. That healing, that being more knitted together towards wholeness, is the work of the Holy Spirit. Transformation happens. Look at it as growth, education, learning, expanding. Letting oneself in on a secret, that life at is best means expansion beyond where one presently is.  There is always more in the adventure of Life, the adventure of growing in Christ.

Find the love current. Feel it. Don’t think it. Feel it. Beathe in love. Imagine it. Nourish it. Know that Jesus the Christ wants to dance with you. Let him take the lead while you wholeheartedly embrace the dance. You will discover how and where you are being sent.   Then come back and share in give and take all the miracles you are witnessing.

Resurrection. Death be not proud. Deathliness doesn’t have the last word. Easter gets the last word.

Your fellow traveler,

—Richard