Monday, November 5

Be gracious to me, O God, for people trample on me; all day long foes oppress me; my enemies trample on me all day long, for many fight against me. O Most High, when I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I am not afraid; what can flesh do to me?

You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your record? Then my enemies will retreat in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I am not afraid. What can a mere mortal do to me?

My vows to you I must perform, O God; I will render thank offerings to you. For you have delivered my soul from death, and my feet from falling, so that I may walk before God in the light of life.  excerpts from Psalm 56

Our enemies are all around us, even in the Church. Maybe especially in the Church because that is where we find it the most difficult to understand. It blindsides us when someone we know as pastor and friend “tramples on” us.

When my daughter came out, I was so proud of her for her courage and strength. But I was also frightened for her because of the pain I knew she would face in this world which is sometimes so unloving and hurtful. One day in a conversation with my pastor (now former pastor) about my concerns for her he asked me what I had done to make her decide to be a lesbian.

Yes, even in the Church, you can be “trampled on.” But God is the one in whom I put my trust and the one who gives me strength. If that were not so, I would not be here in this place today. I am convinced that God calls us to ministries, not to tear down but to build up, not to criticize but to love, not to judge but to understand. God is calling all of God’s children to walk “in the light of life.”

My prayer:
Loving God, thank you for your many gifts of grace, for the times you have stood by our side when it seemed that the whole world was against us. Thank you especially for our children, parents, brothers, sisters, friends: all those persons who demonstrate their beauty, courage, and strength by claiming who and who’s they are. As a parent you understand the pain felt when your child is hurt. You gave your son to be our teacher and my guide, the true example of your love and compassion for all. Thank you. Amen.

Cathi Cline