This is not an original thought, by any means, but it appears as if the signs of the end of U.S. American global hegemony are legion these days. China, not the U.S. is now widely expected to be the economic savior of a euro in grave danger of a major collapse thanks to the economic crises in Greece, Portugal, Ireland, and Spain. For that matter, the last year has been marked by all kinds of currency issues - China, among other nations, has suggested that maybe the U.S. dollar is not the best de facto global currency anymore. Meanwhile, in another hemisphere, the economies of Brazil, Chile and Uruguay have thrived while the so-called developed world has suffered through three years of stagnation.
Meanwhile, in the homeland, we have elected a president incapable of communicating over the partisan din. This partisan din has become such a self-parody that, I suspect, John Boehner and Nancy Pelosi could be looking out the same window at the Capitol, and if Pelosi said it was sunny, Boehner would immediately protest that he's never seen such a ferocious rainstorm before...and then probably accuse Pelosi's closet Marxism of distorting her view of reality. Pelosi would then accuse Boehner of being a capitalist toady of Wall Street, and it would then sound like every C-Span transcript from the past several years. Perhaps it is small wonder that a community organizer, like Obama, has appeared to struggle as a leader - community organizing rests upon the notion that a leader shouldn't do anything that the community can do for itself, and God knows this community inside the Beltway seems incapable of doing anything, let alone anything sensible. Maybe I sympathize more than I think with those who insist that government is the problem; at the very least, this government seems more a problem than a solution.
And what do we find when we go beyond the glorious Capital? We find our financial leaders engaged in the buying and selling of campaign promises - the Koch Brothers, for example, purchased the finest public union-busting bill that money could buy in Wisconsin. Of course, George Soros is, no doubt, funding the policy efforts of the other end of the ideological spectum...provided, of course, that they don't regulate HIS fortune too much. This can't stand without seeming like the voice comes from Main Street as much as Wall Street, however, and so the Tea Party watches the nouveau Robber Barons as they gobble up profit however they can...and then squawks that it's those teachers and their extravagant salaries that are driving us to the brink of fiscal annihilation.
Then, we go to the hinterland provinces - combine-patrolled expanses of prairie and small towns that feel abandoned by the world. The great cities could not possibly care less about Gopher Prairie and Grover's Corners; Garfield and State, or 110th and Broadway, have too many problems of their own right now to be bothered with those damn rurals. Meanwhile, the residents of flyover country and the Rust Belt are treated to the shrill histrionic displays of the Becks and Bachmanns, the pompous bloviating of Gingriches and O'Reillys, and the slippery antics of Romneys and Pawlentys.
And so, we turn on our televisions for whatever opiate we fancy, be it the salvation salesmen and their silk suits and Rolexes on Sky Angel and TBN, or the mind-numbing profusion of opinions presented as facts on Fox News and MSNBC, or Paula Deen and Guy Fieri helping us dull our minds by exploding our waistlines, or enough spouted statistics about the arcane batting average of AA minor league players to fill our brains so full of sports figures that we can easily leave behind the world outside the green grass of the playing field. We go online, and read articles about LiLo's latest escapade, and whether or not Paris and Brittany have "accidentally" treated the paparazzi to a a view of what's not being covered by panties, and if Kim Kardashian's butt is real (breaking news: there's an X-ray of it).
In the meantime, our effective unemployment rate hovers between 15 and 20 percent. Record numbers are on food stamps. An average job search has gone from a matter of weeks to a matter of months...or years. Health care costs have skyrocketed, while average accessibility to effective health care has dropped. The same brilliant minds who brought you the near-collapse of the stock market in 2008 insist that social security and access to medical care are better left in their hands, for as much profit as they can make off them, than in the hands of the government (talk about being between the devil and the deep blue sea...). Racism, sexism, homophobia - all alive and well. Christian religious extremism is reaching fever pitch, right alongside the perceived threat of Islamic extremism. We look at X-rays of a talentless twit's butt...and forget. We forget that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We neglect the poor and worship the rich and famous, even as they throw their financial weight around in order to piss on our leg and then tell us it's raining. I'm beginning to suspect that, when the inevitable happens and all we wake up one day and realize that China, or Mercosur, is the new U.S....we'll have nobody to blame but ourselves, our greed, and our foolishness. And may God have mercy on us.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Elysian Fields
I've written, at least once before, about my deep love for baseball, especially as a Christian. It's easy - oh so easy - to do that at the outset of baseball season, when the newness of it all gives every game a sense of tremendous excitement. You win? Great! You lose? Well, there's always tomorrow, and the friendly bar down the street from Wrigley to get you through until the next first pitch at the friendly confines.
It is a much colder and more broken hallelujah that is my refrain come this point in the season. The Cubs (and Astros and Twins and Royals and whoever your team of preference that's underperforming might be) can't seem to do anything right. You win? You can hardly enjoy it, because you know it's not going to be happening again soon. You lose? The friendly bar down the street from Wrigley feels more depressed than friendly these days.
Somehow, though, it's possible to take the long view. As a Cubs fan, that view has to be particularly long - all the way back to 1908, if you need a World Series win to be cheered up. This year isn't The Year. Next year - who knows? But, maybe winning isn't everything. It seems like a strange thing to say in a society obsessed with winning and losing (just think about Charlie Sheen's outbursts of some months ago, or Sarah Palin's insistence in calling the Democrats "the losing party" since the midterm elections), and in a sport where there are never ties because you play until somebody wins...but maybe baseball, and life, and faith, aren't ultimately about winning. You hear that, Yankees fans?
Well...what does life look like when it's not all about winning? It might look like a small town church softball team that loses by 20 runs, and laughs about it over a friendly beer afterwards. It might look a life measured not by how attractive our partner is, or how much money we have in the bank, or how many spectacular achievements our factory-made overachiever children have under their belts, but in laughter and memories and love. It might look like a God who embraces the sheer barking madness of incarnation, becoming fully human in Christ Jesus to give us our only shot at ever being able to relate to God...and then experiencing the most profound suffering and injustice the world can dish out to further bridge that gap and invite us, through faith, into the neverending relational dance of the Trinity.
Maybe it's small wonder that the first true game of baseball was played at a riverside park in Hoboken, New Jersey called the Elysian Fields.
It is a much colder and more broken hallelujah that is my refrain come this point in the season. The Cubs (and Astros and Twins and Royals and whoever your team of preference that's underperforming might be) can't seem to do anything right. You win? You can hardly enjoy it, because you know it's not going to be happening again soon. You lose? The friendly bar down the street from Wrigley feels more depressed than friendly these days.
Somehow, though, it's possible to take the long view. As a Cubs fan, that view has to be particularly long - all the way back to 1908, if you need a World Series win to be cheered up. This year isn't The Year. Next year - who knows? But, maybe winning isn't everything. It seems like a strange thing to say in a society obsessed with winning and losing (just think about Charlie Sheen's outbursts of some months ago, or Sarah Palin's insistence in calling the Democrats "the losing party" since the midterm elections), and in a sport where there are never ties because you play until somebody wins...but maybe baseball, and life, and faith, aren't ultimately about winning. You hear that, Yankees fans?
Well...what does life look like when it's not all about winning? It might look like a small town church softball team that loses by 20 runs, and laughs about it over a friendly beer afterwards. It might look a life measured not by how attractive our partner is, or how much money we have in the bank, or how many spectacular achievements our factory-made overachiever children have under their belts, but in laughter and memories and love. It might look like a God who embraces the sheer barking madness of incarnation, becoming fully human in Christ Jesus to give us our only shot at ever being able to relate to God...and then experiencing the most profound suffering and injustice the world can dish out to further bridge that gap and invite us, through faith, into the neverending relational dance of the Trinity.
Maybe it's small wonder that the first true game of baseball was played at a riverside park in Hoboken, New Jersey called the Elysian Fields.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
On the merits of dating a nerd: An open letter to the women of the world
I begin this with a note on who I have chosen as the addressees of this message. There's no doubt, in my mind, that the general message of what I am writing applies across gender divides. However, rather than present myself as some sort of bold prophetic voice, I want to upfront in saying that, as a single male who most (myself included) would categorize as at least somewhat nerdy, there is a certain amount of "agenda" in my writing - namely, convincing Emma Stone, or someone like her, or not necessarily like her, of the value in men such as myself, by which I principally mean "me." Call me noble, call me self-serving; just don't call me good at keeping my trap shut.
As I was driving to Fort Dodge this morning for an early lunch, I had cause to reflect upon the timeless question of dating and mating. As a single 26 year old, this is not an uncommon line of thought for me, but today, things took a different turn than normal. Namely, I found myself thinking about the tie between our 21st century neoliberal capitalist market mentality, and dating. Buying and selling. Selling and buying. Investing wisely and diversifying. Thinking about retirement in our twenties. Bonds, stocks, mutual funds, money market accounts. Isn't dating just one more big commodities market? Isn't a first coffee date just another consideration of the merits of investing time and money in the hopes of a return? Isn't a first kiss fundamentally the same as investing in a nice, safe mutual fund - low risk, potential payoff down the road...even though you can easily extricate yourself if things look to be going south? Isn't picking up a stranger at the bar just a sexier form of day trading, and marriage a major long-term investment strategy?
Since, clearly, we're just human commodities in a volatile buyer's market, I began to think about strategies for promoting my long-term goals. Advertising is, of course, key - the public's got to know why I'm worth the investment, after all. So, let's first consider the product. One male, 26, 5'7", 194 lbs, stocky build, olive complexion, dark hair and eyes, excessive body hair, IQ of 150 (with 140 being the genius mark on the scale), moderate (mostly social) drinker, non-smoker, non-drug user, well below average eyesight, moderately active and in good health. Those are the technical specifics; feel free to inquire for more details about featured software.
So, why you should you, attractive female with discerning taste, consider investing in a product such as this? This question becomes particularly important when one considers that other, top-selling models often feature, as standard, increased height (usually more in proportion with weight), decreased hair, no glasses, and lower IQ. What makes this make and model stand out positively when compared to, say, FratBoy 3.0? I invite you to consider the following as you make your selection:
-You're smart, and you want somebody smart. Imagine you have a successful career in a field that requires at least one specialized degree for an entry level position - let's say nursing. You come home from the hospital after a long, hard shift full of Latin and Greek medical terms being slung around like curse words on a Jersey Shore boardwalk. Would rather come home to someone capable of understanding what you're talking about as you vent about the frustrations of working in the medical field, or someone who thinks that "medulla oblongata" is an Italian appetizer? Smart might not be as immediately sexy as firm biceps, but smart doesn't turn to flab once your metabolism crashes, either. Smart is also funnier - Harold and Kumar might sell movie tickets, but it's Woody Allen and Monty Python that will be watched in century.
-He won't be hot forever. He will be paunchy with male pattern baldness by 40. It's like a car; the market value will depreciate. On the flipside, if hotness is off the table to begin with, there's going to be less depreciation. In fact, kinda-cute-and-smart-and-funny is likely to be worth more in 20 years, as "cute" changes less than "hot," "smart" is likely to continue growing in value, and "funny" gets better with familiarity. Think long-term investment strategy here.
-Sex. Yes, I'm going there. It is understandable that there is more immediate turn-on, for you, when you think of (for example) the men featured in shows such as "Thunder From Down Under." Muscular, handsome features, clean-cut appearances - the allure is obvious. And, to immediately attractive men whose sizzle sells the steak (as it were), you are just one more warm, willing body. You are not special. You are probably not the most beautiful girl in the world, or the hottest body on the planet. You're just another woman who meets a base standard of attractiveness, and the sex will reflect that. Is the turn-on more immediate? Of course. Does Nasty McHotstuff have any real reason, or depth of feeling, in taking you on a business class flight to O-town? It's just a commuter flight to Pittsburgh for him, and if you're not willing to let him come on up the jetway, then he'll just wander down to gate C-12 and catch the flight to Buffalo. Easy come, easy go...as it were.
But let me tell you what sex with a nerd is like. I preface this by saying that I speak much more from feeling than experience here. But, what I can say - making out, and presumably sex, with a nerd is much more rewarding, because the average nerd will come to the act of lovemaking with a profound sense of gratitude that, for once, someone recognizes in him that there is more than just a summation of either attractive or unattractive components. The nerd will not just boff you; the nerd will make every kiss, caress, and motion into a self-sacrificing "thank you." The nerd will do whatever it takes, however long it takes, to make your body feel as spectacular as his emotional state at, finally, being told in the most primal way possible that, yes, he is somehow special and unique. And, considering the level of wounding of most nerds (who have, more likely than not, had their egos battered for most of their lives over all the things they're not), I have every reason to suspect that the passionate "thank you for seeing me for me" isn't likely to die out after the second date.
So, all of you in my target demographic, keep these things in mind. We're all consumers in this glorious day and age, so - be an educated consumer. Invest strategically. Check out the goods before you buy them. Think long-term. And...think that, perhaps, your purchasing power might have the ability to do good not only to yourself, but to others, as well. And, if you're Emma Stone, or perhaps a woman who is (to quote Cee-Lo Green) less an X-Box and more an Atari, and you're reading this, I will totally take you to a Cubs game and then buy you drinks all night long.
As I was driving to Fort Dodge this morning for an early lunch, I had cause to reflect upon the timeless question of dating and mating. As a single 26 year old, this is not an uncommon line of thought for me, but today, things took a different turn than normal. Namely, I found myself thinking about the tie between our 21st century neoliberal capitalist market mentality, and dating. Buying and selling. Selling and buying. Investing wisely and diversifying. Thinking about retirement in our twenties. Bonds, stocks, mutual funds, money market accounts. Isn't dating just one more big commodities market? Isn't a first coffee date just another consideration of the merits of investing time and money in the hopes of a return? Isn't a first kiss fundamentally the same as investing in a nice, safe mutual fund - low risk, potential payoff down the road...even though you can easily extricate yourself if things look to be going south? Isn't picking up a stranger at the bar just a sexier form of day trading, and marriage a major long-term investment strategy?
Since, clearly, we're just human commodities in a volatile buyer's market, I began to think about strategies for promoting my long-term goals. Advertising is, of course, key - the public's got to know why I'm worth the investment, after all. So, let's first consider the product. One male, 26, 5'7", 194 lbs, stocky build, olive complexion, dark hair and eyes, excessive body hair, IQ of 150 (with 140 being the genius mark on the scale), moderate (mostly social) drinker, non-smoker, non-drug user, well below average eyesight, moderately active and in good health. Those are the technical specifics; feel free to inquire for more details about featured software.
So, why you should you, attractive female with discerning taste, consider investing in a product such as this? This question becomes particularly important when one considers that other, top-selling models often feature, as standard, increased height (usually more in proportion with weight), decreased hair, no glasses, and lower IQ. What makes this make and model stand out positively when compared to, say, FratBoy 3.0? I invite you to consider the following as you make your selection:
-You're smart, and you want somebody smart. Imagine you have a successful career in a field that requires at least one specialized degree for an entry level position - let's say nursing. You come home from the hospital after a long, hard shift full of Latin and Greek medical terms being slung around like curse words on a Jersey Shore boardwalk. Would rather come home to someone capable of understanding what you're talking about as you vent about the frustrations of working in the medical field, or someone who thinks that "medulla oblongata" is an Italian appetizer? Smart might not be as immediately sexy as firm biceps, but smart doesn't turn to flab once your metabolism crashes, either. Smart is also funnier - Harold and Kumar might sell movie tickets, but it's Woody Allen and Monty Python that will be watched in century.
-He won't be hot forever. He will be paunchy with male pattern baldness by 40. It's like a car; the market value will depreciate. On the flipside, if hotness is off the table to begin with, there's going to be less depreciation. In fact, kinda-cute-and-smart-and-funny is likely to be worth more in 20 years, as "cute" changes less than "hot," "smart" is likely to continue growing in value, and "funny" gets better with familiarity. Think long-term investment strategy here.
-Sex. Yes, I'm going there. It is understandable that there is more immediate turn-on, for you, when you think of (for example) the men featured in shows such as "Thunder From Down Under." Muscular, handsome features, clean-cut appearances - the allure is obvious. And, to immediately attractive men whose sizzle sells the steak (as it were), you are just one more warm, willing body. You are not special. You are probably not the most beautiful girl in the world, or the hottest body on the planet. You're just another woman who meets a base standard of attractiveness, and the sex will reflect that. Is the turn-on more immediate? Of course. Does Nasty McHotstuff have any real reason, or depth of feeling, in taking you on a business class flight to O-town? It's just a commuter flight to Pittsburgh for him, and if you're not willing to let him come on up the jetway, then he'll just wander down to gate C-12 and catch the flight to Buffalo. Easy come, easy go...as it were.
But let me tell you what sex with a nerd is like. I preface this by saying that I speak much more from feeling than experience here. But, what I can say - making out, and presumably sex, with a nerd is much more rewarding, because the average nerd will come to the act of lovemaking with a profound sense of gratitude that, for once, someone recognizes in him that there is more than just a summation of either attractive or unattractive components. The nerd will not just boff you; the nerd will make every kiss, caress, and motion into a self-sacrificing "thank you." The nerd will do whatever it takes, however long it takes, to make your body feel as spectacular as his emotional state at, finally, being told in the most primal way possible that, yes, he is somehow special and unique. And, considering the level of wounding of most nerds (who have, more likely than not, had their egos battered for most of their lives over all the things they're not), I have every reason to suspect that the passionate "thank you for seeing me for me" isn't likely to die out after the second date.
So, all of you in my target demographic, keep these things in mind. We're all consumers in this glorious day and age, so - be an educated consumer. Invest strategically. Check out the goods before you buy them. Think long-term. And...think that, perhaps, your purchasing power might have the ability to do good not only to yourself, but to others, as well. And, if you're Emma Stone, or perhaps a woman who is (to quote Cee-Lo Green) less an X-Box and more an Atari, and you're reading this, I will totally take you to a Cubs game and then buy you drinks all night long.
Monday, June 20, 2011
An important post
Dear friends,
Grace and peace to you! As many of you know, I am participating in this year's Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa - hereafter referred to, as all Iowans do, as RAGBRAI. This year's route is a 452-mile, week-long trek from Glenwood, in southwestern Iowa, all the way across the state to Davenport. It promises to be a great week!
Many of you probably do not know, however, that I will be participating in the fall in a Christian Peacemaking Team that is headed to Colombia for two weeks. My experiences abroad - particularly my time in West Africa and Latin America - have given me a deep appreciation both of God's desire that those of us who bear the name of Christ in this world work for peace, and of the lack of peace that defines life in much of the world. Over the past few years, I have tried to use my voice and public witness to draw attention to the intersection between our nation's foreign policy and the perpetuation of violence in other parts of the world. This has not always made me popular, but I feel that it would be unfaithful to God's call in our lives to "work for peace and justice in all the world" to keep silent about that which I've seen and heard.
In March, I was blessed to participate in the biennial Congress on Urban Ministry, where I heard Shane Claiborne speak about, among other things, his experience serving as part of a Christian Peacemaking Team that visited Iraq. I was deeply moved by his testimony, and felt moved to consider prayerfully how I might also deepen my commitment to the work of peacemaking. The opportunity has arisen for me to serve for two weeks on a Christian Peacemaking Team in Colombia; during my time there, I will meet with church and human rights campaign leaders who have been working to address to the various forms of violence which have engulfed the nation since 1964. My time will be spent in Bogota, Barrancabermeja, and a currently to-be-determined location in the countryside.
As part of my participation in this delegation, I have been asked to engage in fundraising, both as a means of defraying CPT's costs and of raising awareness about the Colombian conflict. I will be raising $2,100.00; this is a substantial sum of money, but certainly not beyond reach!
And this is where RAGBRAI comes in. I am dedicating my RAGBRAI ride to raising money to support my time in Colombia. Your help is vital, and here's how you can give it!
-PRAY. This is probably the most fundamental piece; please pray for me as I prepare for two very intense weeks in Colombia, for the peace and safety of the Colombian people, and for our delegation's safety.
-DONATE A SET AMOUNT. You can decide a set dollar amount to help me on my way. Just remember, $2,100 seems like a lot, but all it takes is 21 people giving $100, 42 giving $50, 84 giving $25, or 210 giving $10 to make that happen. Every penny you give makes a difference!
-DONATE BY MILEAGE. Since RAGBRAI is going to my main fundraiser, you can donate a set amount for every mile I ride. The total ride is 452 miles, so a $1/mile donation would be $452, 50 cents/mile would be $226, 25 cents/mile would be $113, 10 cents/mile would be $45.20, and 5 cents/mile would be $27.60.
-GET THE WORD OUT. You have my permission to share my story and fundraising goal with anyone and everyone who you'd care to share it with! The more people who hear about what I'm up to does a great deal to raise awareness about the over-40 year long conflict in Colombia, and hey, if it nets me an extra donation...I will take it.
In return for your support, I'll provide:
-BLOGGING. I will dedicate space in my blog (believablebaker.blogspot.com) for reflection upon the experience
-PERSONALIZED REPORTS. For individuals who are able to contribute financially, I would be happy to meet in person, skype, or via e-mail and give you a more personalized account of my time in Colombia.
-PRESENTATIONS. For congregations or groups who contribute financially, I would be very happy to put together a presentation about my experiences in Colombia; I'm very open to what form this presentation could take!
Thank you for taking the time to read this and to consider supporting me. Even if you are not able to provide financial support, your prayers are very welcome and appreciated!
Peace,
Kevin Baker
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
May they be one as we are one
I confirmed my first youth on Sunday. Anyone who knows me has, no doubt, figured out by now that I have a soft spot for youngsters. Once they no longer need help to wipe their butts, I love hanging out with them...at least until they start buying sensible shoes and investing in mutual funds. Maybe this makes me Pastor Peter Pan, but I'll take it. I come by it honest, too - my dad was one of the "cool" parents at my junior high and high school who genuinely enjoyed spending time with us teens, and without being overbearing or boring or strict.
And, like my dad, I find a lot of joy in spending time with teenagers. So many "grown-ups" can't stand the noise and the energy and the goofiness; I say those "grown-ups" need to redefine what it means to be an adult and pull the stick out of their butt. In the immortal words of my father, being an adult isn't about being serious - it's about knowing when you need to be serious, and then having fun the rest of the time. I LIKE the joking around. I LIKE the oft-inappropriate humor. I LIKE the somewhat irreverent attitude toward authority...even as an authority figure. And...I LIKE trying to model what it means to take the best of those things, combine them with earnest (but self-aware and honestly vulnerable) faith, and live the sort of life I feel called to in Christ.
So, for the first time in my blossoming vocation in parish ministry, I've journeyed with a group of young people to a faith crossroads and seen them say YES to the promises God made in their baptisms. Sure, I've worked with others on their way to that moment...but this is the first time that I've gotten to be the one walking with them, in and outside of Confirmation class, for the whole journey. It's the first time I've gotten to invite them to renounce the devil and all his empty promises, confess their faith in the triune God, pray that the Spirit guide them, ask the assembly to support them, and then say that, yes, they are now adults in the eyes of the Church. It is one of the deepest honors I have had in my life.
I was thinking, earlier, about a thought I had when I was finishing up my year in Montevideo, about how the people I know and have built relationships with aren't separate from who I am - we belong to each other. That mystical relationship within God that we see in the Trinity, and that we experience in faith, isn't just between God and Godself, or between us and God; it's between us and the people around us. We belong to each other in Christ; we carry each other within ourselves. Josie, Cameron, Chaz, and Ryan are a part of who I am, and vice versa. The other people here, and across this world, who have touched my life are a part of me, and I'm a part of them. We are not separate.
I wonder, of course, what will happen to these four as they keep on walking - as I leave in six weeks to go back to Chicago, as they become high schoolers, and college students, and spouses and parents and grandparents and teachers and coaches and doctors and pastors and farmers and who knows what else. I know what the numbers say - the odds aren't the best that they'll stay active in church, or that they'll even necessarily cling to this faith, or any other. They'll doubt; they'll wonder if God even exists at all. I mean, hell, I did. All of this makes a part of me scared - as a pastor, I wonder if I did a "good" enough job of bearing witness to the Gospel, or what the future might look like if I'd taught this instead of that, or if I'd prayed 10 minutes a day for them instead of 5, or if I'd made one less sarcastic response and one more grace-filled statement about how we see Christ active in our world.
But, at the end of the day, I have to trust that the same Spirit whose coming we celebrated yesterday is still alive and active in the world, and in those kids' hearts - that no matter where they go or what they do, that God will still be present with them. It's not always easy to trust that...but I'm going to try, even as I learn how to let go and watch them start to grow as this little farm town moves closer to being my past instead of my present.
And, like my dad, I find a lot of joy in spending time with teenagers. So many "grown-ups" can't stand the noise and the energy and the goofiness; I say those "grown-ups" need to redefine what it means to be an adult and pull the stick out of their butt. In the immortal words of my father, being an adult isn't about being serious - it's about knowing when you need to be serious, and then having fun the rest of the time. I LIKE the joking around. I LIKE the oft-inappropriate humor. I LIKE the somewhat irreverent attitude toward authority...even as an authority figure. And...I LIKE trying to model what it means to take the best of those things, combine them with earnest (but self-aware and honestly vulnerable) faith, and live the sort of life I feel called to in Christ.
So, for the first time in my blossoming vocation in parish ministry, I've journeyed with a group of young people to a faith crossroads and seen them say YES to the promises God made in their baptisms. Sure, I've worked with others on their way to that moment...but this is the first time that I've gotten to be the one walking with them, in and outside of Confirmation class, for the whole journey. It's the first time I've gotten to invite them to renounce the devil and all his empty promises, confess their faith in the triune God, pray that the Spirit guide them, ask the assembly to support them, and then say that, yes, they are now adults in the eyes of the Church. It is one of the deepest honors I have had in my life.
I was thinking, earlier, about a thought I had when I was finishing up my year in Montevideo, about how the people I know and have built relationships with aren't separate from who I am - we belong to each other. That mystical relationship within God that we see in the Trinity, and that we experience in faith, isn't just between God and Godself, or between us and God; it's between us and the people around us. We belong to each other in Christ; we carry each other within ourselves. Josie, Cameron, Chaz, and Ryan are a part of who I am, and vice versa. The other people here, and across this world, who have touched my life are a part of me, and I'm a part of them. We are not separate.
I wonder, of course, what will happen to these four as they keep on walking - as I leave in six weeks to go back to Chicago, as they become high schoolers, and college students, and spouses and parents and grandparents and teachers and coaches and doctors and pastors and farmers and who knows what else. I know what the numbers say - the odds aren't the best that they'll stay active in church, or that they'll even necessarily cling to this faith, or any other. They'll doubt; they'll wonder if God even exists at all. I mean, hell, I did. All of this makes a part of me scared - as a pastor, I wonder if I did a "good" enough job of bearing witness to the Gospel, or what the future might look like if I'd taught this instead of that, or if I'd prayed 10 minutes a day for them instead of 5, or if I'd made one less sarcastic response and one more grace-filled statement about how we see Christ active in our world.
But, at the end of the day, I have to trust that the same Spirit whose coming we celebrated yesterday is still alive and active in the world, and in those kids' hearts - that no matter where they go or what they do, that God will still be present with them. It's not always easy to trust that...but I'm going to try, even as I learn how to let go and watch them start to grow as this little farm town moves closer to being my past instead of my present.
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