03-09-21

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
March 9, 2021
Scripture: Esther 4:15-16
Then Esther said in reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will also fast as you do. After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.”

Thought for the Day: Today is the day after International Women’s Day. Mondays I share a prayer for my Etchings, yet I didn’t want to ignore this important day. A number of years ago I heard someone say, “It is good to have an International Women’s Day to counter the 364 International Men’s Days each year.” The point was well taken, a point acknowledging the ongoing challenges, systemic sexism and misogyny permeating human history. Women are disproportionally impacted by poverty and hunger both in the United States and around the globe. White women in the United States on average make $.79 and black women make $.62 to every dollar a man makes, while women are more often raising children on their own. With all that said, International Women’s Day is intended to be a celebration of women’s accomplishments. As a pastor, I am proud of our denominational history when it comes to women clergy, yet there are some significant caveats in regard to that statement. Men still hold a majority of the Sr. Ministry positions in our denomination even though I believe four out of our top five preachers are women, and our General Minister and President is a woman. I see many positive changes, but we should never allow measurable progress to be the finish line. I was raised and surrounded by women during my most formative years – brilliant, caring, determined, funny, successful, creative, progressive, prophetic women, and I feel confident that I am a better person because of it. And today, I am married to such a woman who helps me to see my blind spots in regard to toxic masculinity and other unhealthy behaviors still woven into our cultural ethos. Take some time today to give thanks for women around the globe who act with courage and extraordinary faithfulness when it comes to the dream of seeing true equality.

Prayer: Holy One of Heaven, we celebrate the amazing gifts brought to this world by women, yet we acknowledge with great sadness the people and systems that continue to discriminate and bring injury to women around the globe. No human being deserves to be treated with anything less than the respect and reverence you have for humanity, every single human being. May that be our holy aspiration. Amen.

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