We’ve been here before, but it’s obvious this is a topic we’re destined to revisit time and again. I’ll begin by admitting that I understand how some people may feel compelled to push back with a “Not all” statement when the truth hits too close to home. I understand this because I’ve been there.
Searching for Connection to the Holy
“Rev Karla, why do you have to be so rude? She’s just sharing her opinion.”
Wait, what?
I must admit, the first time someone said something like that to me, it gave me pause. I hadn’t expected that a follower would suggest my comments were “rude.”
When Scripture is Weaponized to Dehumanize
“Love can build a bridge. Between your heart and mine. Don't you think it's time?” These lyrics are from a beautiful love song written and sung by Naomi Judd, who along with her daughter Wynonna won a Grammy for it in 1991.
In the real world, building that bridge of love to friends and family can be challenging, and truthfully, sometimes impossible.
Something significant happened recently. Did you notice? I would completely understand if you didn’t. A world in chaos because of a global pandemic is still making headlines. Our nation’s political tensions that pose a very real threat to our democracy are also wreaking havoc on our ability to focus on anything else.
We’ve been looking the wrong way.
What is the moving target? The types of Christians you’ll meet. It turns out that even within Christianity you will find disagreement on how to define it. Plenty of Christians will offer their interpretation, primarily based on their beliefs that they alone are keepers of the absolute truth. The rest of us are heretics. That type of literalist sees their faith as a club with strict membership rules.
So what exactly is the spiritual wilderness?
It is a time when you feel alone and vulnerable with no direction on next steps to lead you closer to the Holy. I’m intentionally vague about this description because it's as unique for each person as our fingerprints -- no two are the same.
Well, it happened again.
Sometimes, a pattern emerges in our lives that isn’t of our making. For me, it arrived in my response to comments on my social media content.
