08-15-25

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
August 15, 2025
James A. Garfield was the 20th President of the United States, though before he became President, he was a preacher in our tradition, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In fact, he was the only president to also be a minister. One of the best quotes attributed to Garfield, at least in my opinion, is: “The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable.” In Sunday’s sermon, I will be talking about truth-telling, but specifically, some of the most difficult truth-telling. We will look at telling the truth about ourselves, which sometimes is difficult because we are so close to the subject that we do not see things clearly. The well-known Greek philosophical statement, “Know Thyself,” was carved into the wall of the Temple of Apollo. Its origin is uncertain, and though history has brought many interpretations to the words, how many of us need to know ourselves a little better? I think about my own insecurities in my late teens and early 20s, and all I did to avoid and pretend they did not exist. The only problem is that they played themselves out on a daily basis. I’m certain many people around me could see those insecurities, but by their very nature, those insecurities were quite talented at explaining away my insecurities. With the help of a counselor and a few other friends and mentors, I begins to see what was always in front of me, yet somehow, I did not notice. Does anyone else have a similar story? Anyone else have something they are currently avoiding? Is there any of us who do not see what we are avoiding, but are pretty certain there is something yet discovered that we are avoiding?

Be kind, O Lord, as you always have been. Be gentle, yet persistent when I am in complete denial of something that needs some recognition. Be encouraging as I begin the hard work of not only acknowledging what I have not wanted to acknowledge, but uncovering all the ways my denial might have hurt others. Through your grace, help me take the first step and then the next. Amen.