Momentary Trace

Lee Stranahan: Embrace What You Have In Common With Rick Warren

Usually, I avoid commenting on this topic because it is so controversial and endlessly complex. I have to sympathize with the outrage that those in the LGTBQ community feel about the choice of Rick Warren to give the invocation at Obama's inauguration. But, let's give some credit to the fact that Obama also invited Rev. Lowery to give the closing prayer - and he supports gay marriage (sort of).

Honestly, I can't help but admire Obama for putting into practice his promise to welcome all people to the table, even if he fundamentally disagrees with them on some issues. I certainly don't agree with Obama on everything. I definitely don't agree with Warren on everything. But I respect that Warren has a credible moral voice on some issues like poverty in Africa and HIV/AIDS; his willingness to break rank with rank and file evangelical conservatives by reaching out to Obama is commendable.

At the same time (and I'm going to contradict myself here), I do wonder if if was necessary to pick a prominent pastor from CA who opposed Prop. 8, so soon after the election. There are certainly liberal or progressive evangelical pastors who might have been a better choice to bridge the divides in America ---- a Jim Wallis or Tony Campolo comes to mind. But then again, they have been fairly written off by conservative evangelicals, so it lacks the same punch. Is this pick needlessly divisive or a needed act of bridge building? Is it cynical pandering or a principled commitment to inclusivity despite difference?

I agree with Stranahan that we have very small politics in this country --- in fact, our politics are too small for problems that face us. We have to learn to work together. We have to learn to practice reconciliation and civil discourse. We have to learn how to see a fundamental goodness in people and give them the benefit of the doubt, even if we disagree with some of their ideas and opinions. And we have to rely on reason, genuine dialogue, and authentic relationship to create social change.

Did I support Prop. 8? No. I understand the justifiable hurt and outrage that so many in CA are experiencing right now. But do I support censoring and excluding people from the public sphere just because they happen to support it? No. Yeah, Obama could have picked a less "divisive" figure, but I still respect the courage that Warren and Obama are both showing as they break our old paradigms. Don't think that Warren isn't getting equally criticized from the right for supporting Obama on some positions. It's antithetical to some in the Christian community that Warren would be willing to engage in dialogue and friendship with someone who supports gay rights and is pro-choice. So, both Obama and Warren are getting hit from the right and the left. Personally, whenever, I see that happen, I think it's a good sign even if I might not have made the same choice in Obama's position; I think it is a healthy political climate when we can no longer box our leaders into dichotomous ideologies.

Stranahan says it best:

"in the long run this new politics benefits us all. Ironically, it benefits the minorities and marginalized and ill-treated the most. I know this may be hard for many to see right now but the truth is that this sort of symbol is what America needs. Not seeing just Warren on stage or just Lowery but seeing both of them of there at once.

Obama said it in the abstract time and again during the campaign. Now he's showing us. Seeing the things that Pastor Rick Warren and Reverend Joseph Lowery have in common is more important than seeing the things that separate them. America needs to see that. It's a step down the road where a majority of us see the things that straight Americans in love want are the same things that gay Americans in love want, too.

If you are mad about Rick Warren, I'm not attacking you. I understand your anger and I'm not saying it's not justified. But it's all right to let your anger go, too. It doesn't mean surrender, it doesn't mean giving up the struggle for equality.
It means doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. It means winning, right now - because the fight against hate starts whenever you want it, in your own heart. You can win a battle right now by not hating.

Can I get an amen?"

Naming your dreams is scary --- I always go through this superstitious process that goes something like this. If I say out loud (or pray for) what I really really hope for or want or desire, than I risk being foolish, pretentious, or naïve. Who is to say that I deserve a particular path or dream? Rally, it’s just a complex way of not wanting to “jinx” my future, as if God is going to despise me or judge me for hoping. Despite all my platitudes about faith and trust, I truly have a hard time owning and naming my dreams before God and trusting that God has created me for a specific purpose and calling.

Anyway, yesterday, I drew out hopes for the new year on a piece of paper as an act of prayer.

Here are my New Year hopes and Advent stirrings:

For meaningful creative work, mentors and community

For opportunities to engage in exploration and self-expression

For the opportunity to engage ideas, to write, and bring together word and spirit in a facilitated way (i.e. graduate school)

I can’t help but still feeling a trace of guilt in this being my biggest hope right now – I mean really, it all seems so selfish and focused around me, even though my vision is that I will be prepared for service and ministry, and I long more than anything to work towards justice, reconciliation, and healing. I’m not sure where that voice comes from: the voice that accuses me and interrogates me, but I don’t think it's reality.

I love that verse that talks about the peace of God guarding our hearts and minds. I’ve come back to that often in the last few months. We really do need that peace beyond understanding to protect us from all the logical or illogical forces that threaten to steal our life, hope, and dreams.

I’m trying to breathe in that peace and offer it to those around me.