11-19-23

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
November 19, 2024
Yesterday, I booted up my computer to find the usual big dump of emails. Despite my best efforts to mark spam and unsubscribe from unwanted messages, I still receive a ton. Among the numerous emails, three particular emails caught my attention. The first email contained an update on someone’s health, and it was a bit concerning. The second email came from an organization that supports farmworkers, and while it raised some concerns, it was good to hear of something being done. The third email had a surprising header: “Do you know how to keep your dishwasher clean?” 

Does anyone else feel like these emails perfectly capture the daily grind? One day, you’re concerned about the health of someone who you care about, then you hear of a community of marginalized people in distress, and the next thing you know, your dishwasher smells unpleasant. There’s no logical connection between these happenings, and the smell shouldn’t even be in the same category as the other two. Yet, it shows up. You sit with a friend burdened by a health issue and find tangible ways to advocate for justice alongside the most vulnerable. Despite your efforts, you feel like nothing is truly accomplished. You did those things willingly and you would do them again, but it’s strangely comforting to discover that vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda can eliminate the stench from your dishwasher. In a world filled with complex and seemingly unsolvable situations, it’s refreshing to have something simple that has a beginning and an end. And when it is done, you can return to the other crucial work that doesn’t have easy solutions.

For all the good work you have entrusted us to do, O God of Kindness and Justice, we pray for a spirit of tenacity, particularly when it feels as if the really important work is facing some  formidable obstacles. Amen.