2020 Is Here

Over the last 10 years I have awakened to God’s love - the love of God that is all around us, the love of God that is around us all, the love of God that is planted in us all.

Christian.

Jewish.

Muslim.

Hindu.

Buddhist.

Atheist.

Agnostic.

Young.

Old.

Male.

Female.

Transgender.

Gay.

Lesbian.

Queer.

I’ve come to realize and recognize that none of us has the corner market on God, none of us has the corner market on love, none of us has the corner market on eternity.

I’ve come to believe that buried within us all is the best version of ourselves, the image of the Divine that was planted there at the very beginning of everything.

I’ve come to believe that maybe we’re all headed to the same place. Not one group headed up to heavenly bliss and another down to a fiery hell, but all headed towards the white hot fires of goodness that will melt away the hurts and pains and shortcomings of this life to reveal the best version of ourselves that has always been there.

I’ve come to believe that we’re all drinking from a mighty river and my glass isn’t any better than your glass, my glass doesn’t contain any more life than your glass, God isn’t in my glass anymore than she’s in your glass … but that the river we both dipped our glasses into - that’s where the real life is, that’s where Spirit dwells.

I’ve become aware, I guess you could say - aware of so much more than I have the space to say here. Aware that God is much bigger than I’ll ever be able to grasp.

And so, for me, 2020 is about continuing to be aware … it’s about continuing to allow my understanding of God to expand and grow and evolve and get bigger and more radical and more heretically (un)orthodox. It’s no longer about expanding my theological box, but allowing myself to dare to believe that there is no box. It’s about continuing to break free from cages, continuing to push boundaries and redefine expectations.

In her book “Christianity After Religion” Diana Butler Bass says this …

“To awaken spiritually means that we develop a new awareness of God’s energy in the world in order to discern what is needed to open the possibilities for human flourishing. Discernment leads to new understandings of self, neighbor, and God - a vision of what can and should be. Thus, awakening demands we act upon the new vision. Wake up, discern, imagine, and do. What will make a difference to the future is awakening to a faith that fully communicates God’s love - a love that transforms how we believe, what we do, and who we are in the world.”

And so for 2020, that’s what I want to do. I want to continue to be awake. To continue to awaken more. To keep discerning. To keep daring to imagine. To keep doing.

Yes, some people will be unhappy. Those who like to keep the status quo and keep the boat steady will come with their pitch forks and torches and nails and hammers and crosses. They will yell and scream and spit and name call and ridicule. It will continue to be painful, it will continue to hurt, it will continue to make me question my journey and wonder if God has forsaken me.

BUT.

One thing is for sure - as I follow in the footsteps of the Christ, I trust that resurrection awaits. Not somewhere down the road, not somewhere on the other end of eternity in some far away land in the clouds … but right here, right now - in this very moment and the moment after that and after that and after that.

Resurrection is here amidst all the ups and downs and terribly beautiful things that 2020 will bring, and I am awake.

Welcome 2020.

Much love,