“Fearfully and Wonderfully Made”- A Blessing for the Misfits 2021
Easter tends to be my almost Monopoloy-esque “Free Parking” stopping space. Inevitable at a handful of moments during the week leading up to Good Friday then Easter Sunday, I reflect upon my own faith, where I have been and where I am now. This year, I took a walk down memory lane to years past and realized the sheer amount that I have changed, even in the subtle ways. A few days ago, I attempted to map out turning points to various beliefs and decisions. They often came out of moments when I realized that there was “other-ing” and “judgement” where there should have been love+acceptance and/or moments when it became clear that I watched other’s choose personal gain first when love and people should have been the priority.
The act of dismantling what you believe to then rebuild and reconfigure can often break your heart. Things that used to be healing or soothing become laced with uncertainty or they become unsafe. For example, recently, I was going through music that I had cultivate over the past eight years that was religious in lyrics and music, but as I was going through them all I could think was that most of these folks producing this music had created barriers and harm towards my LGTBQ+ and BIPOC siblings. Sarah Bessey has often verbalized the feeling of breaking apart past beliefs and finding yourself “in the wilderness” with the other religious misfits. There is a solidarity knowing that there are a handful of us who have not completely left our religious beliefs, but we no longer fit within what is “accepted” read the convention of our religion. It is important to me this year that I send love to all my fellow occupants of the Island of Misfit Toys. Inspired by similar blessings from writer and ordained minister Nadia Bolz-Weber, I give you…
“Fearfully and Wonderfully Made-A Blessing for The Misfits”
- Blessed are the Black-Indigenous-Asian-People of Color who carry not only their own pain and trauma, but who must also continue to survive in a society that has deep roots of racism and white supremacy… The Kingdom of God has always been yours, and I am so sorry for all the ways that white faith leaders and members have tried to shut you out
- Blessed are the clients that I work with who are coping after unfathomable events, who are getting high and pouring out another drink just to numb the pain. The individuals who go back to their partners to survive, out of belief this person will change, go back due to faith pressures and/or shared children, who stay because they will be outed by their partner if they leave….You are beloved.
- Blessed are our transgender and other LGTBQ+ siblings. My beautiful transgender sister with her dark hair and lip piercings, the magical humans with their mullets, long hair and patches of facial hair, boys with lipstick and skirts, etc. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Love, compassion, unending kindness and acceptance is yours too.
- Blessed are those who are hiding in the shadows because they struggle to reconcile the influence of power and their own actions from years ago. You are welcomed at this table, and we hold no shame towards you.
- Blessed are the women who grew up listening to purity culture rhetoric, who saw men who abused and destroyed be praised publicly, who were taught to fold themselves in, who are now owning their sexuality and using their voice to express themselves. Jesus has always accepted every fiery bone in your body.
- Blessed are the those who say that they cannot believe anymore, that they are unsure who they are now, who say that they are just “done”-you are loved and have a place at this table.
- Blessed are those who are social distancing and mask wearing. Blessed are those who struggle to small talk now, who are refreshing their email for a vaccine appointment, who have not been hugged in months, who are high risk and listening to their family and friends say that they do not care because they are not at risk, who have dried bleeding hands from over-washing and over sanitizing… I believe that Jesus would be doing the same things that you are, protecting the most vulnerable in our community. You are seen; you are not alone.
- Blessed are those who have lost someone this year-whether through break-up or death. In a year where people are split apart and it is unsafe to gather, it is so much harder to navigate grieving. I am so sorry for the unexpected losses, I am so sorry for the stolen last moments and the lack of adequate mourning periods. It is okay to not be okay. You are loved and not alone.
- Blessed are the teachers navigating unsafe, changing conditions. The tinies who are fascinated by what other humans look like after they have been kept safe at home for a year, for health care/food workers/technicians/cleaners/every other essential worker tirelessly working…you have been the hands and feet of Jesus.
- Blessed are the broken hearted and exhausted. Jesus is with you. Blessed are those deemed “other”; Jesus sees you. Blessed are the terrified, the uncertain, the anxious, the depressed, and the deprived; you never walk alone. Blessed are the isolated, the social outcasts, the fodder for loud grabbing men, those who feel shame, the distant, the loud, the fiery, the soft and sensitive- Jesus is open armed towards you, and you are welcome here.
Where there is shame, let there be healing. Where there is injustice and hate, let love and justice ring strong and loud. Where there is division and boundaries of who is allowed in, let those gaps be filled and those walls be shattered. Where there is brokenness, let there be healing. Where there is darkness, let the light break through.
[Inspiration for this post, text from Nadio Bolz-Weber’s benediction for Rachel Held Evan’s funeral….https://radicaldiscipleship.net/2019/06/08/gods-blessing-to-the-weak/]
