01-28-26

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 28, 2026
I have started and erased, started and erased this Etching more times than I care to admit. My words have represented a bit of a word salad, with spurts and sputters of frustration and utter nonsense. There are days when an idea flows, and other days where it might take me a little longer. And then there are days like this one where my ideas feel like they are wading through waist-deep oatmeal on their way to some semblance of written communication. I guess what I want to say is that human beings are not a problem to solve. A lack of human decency is a problem for us to solve, and one that I believe we can solve. Dr. King was right when he wrote, “We must all learn to live together as family or we will all perish together as fools” (slight modification by Bruce). We can do better, and I would encourage us to begin with telling the truth, and not simply a fabricated version that seeks to protect the powerful at the expense of the most vulnerable. The prophets were seeking a much better world, and Jesus came along and took their vision to a whole different level.

​Lord, have mercy! Christ, have mercy! There is no question that we need your mercy, and from there, we might begin to fashion a new way of living together, living with love and compassion as Jesus taught us. Amen.