Why does this matter now?
The evangelical church often teaches that those in the church are “good/our people” and those outside the church are “bad”.
They try remove your discernment. Creepy, judgmental Deacon Dude who was always hugging me too long and caressing my 11yr old back, he was “good”. Look no further.
That sweet, caring teacher you love who’s agnostic, yeah she’s going to hell. She’s bad and will lead you to darkness.
This led to so many years of allowing gaslighting and pain in my life. I believed some story about a person over how they were showing up. Over what I knew in my heart.
This pain brought me to the truth. People are not “good” because they are Christian. They’re not “good” because they present themselves as such. People are not who they say they are.
People are who I say they are. Does that mean I determine whether someone is objectively good or bad? No, but you bet your ass I decide who is good or bad FOR ME!
Why does this matter now? Because there are many evangelicals out there who are lost in this dynamic. They have no discernment so they let themselves be controlled. They have given over to hating the “bad”. Ironically, they live in and create around them the very hell-scape that they believe their faith gives them immunity from.
I can tell this dynamic is not completely healed in me because I feel betrayed. I believed their line that they modeled their lives after Christ. Where is that in all the hate and violence many of them are either living or complicit in by their silence?
The Christian church is in a fight for its life. They’re losing about 1% of their parishioners a year. When will they wake up and see the destruction their lemming mentality creates? When will they stop demonizing the Christians who actually live a Christ-like life? How can they stand their hypocrisy?
The old way always goes out with a fight. I want to love it to death. I want to strive to be more of who they said they were. To forgive, include, embrace, show mercy and compassion.
It’s hard right now to do this. The temptation to resist and hate is strong. It’s hard not to send back to these “Christians” the violent energy that they put out. But, y’all, were better than that.
I’m weary, folx.
There’s a terrified little girl inside of me and she is shaking. I’m speaking to you from the bottom of my heart and I’m trusting you to be gentle and respectful.
Religious indoctrination traumatized this sweet, sensitive child. It terrified her with the lie that what was inside of her was evil. That she was inherently evil. That her salvation laid only in their way.
Their way was an external locus of control. The man knows the truth. The man enforces the truth. You can’t know the truth so you dutifully follow.
You put a man on a pedestal and strive to be pure like him. Shame of your very being is the air you breathe. You will fear what and who they tell you to fear.
We are the chosen and they are the other. Preach the Good Samaritan but sanction a president that separates immigrants families.
Here’s what I have to say to her now: “Inside of you, your very being is a oneness that you will never discover the depth of. Your being IS a love so transcendent that all hate evaporates in its light. The only one who holds the truth of you is you.
This is a great freedom but also a great burden. Most others are looking for their tribe, for the outside to tell them who they are. They want to use violence(in word or deed) to force you to reflect their chosen belief system.
You must see them for what they are and love and fight. Use your gifts to spread the love that shines in all beings. To remind people of all the indescribable goodness often hidden just out of perception.
In any moment you can connect through your center to all consciousness. Now that you know this you will never be the same. You will always have at least one foot in a peace beyond understanding. You are always a breath away from a heart so full of love for all of existence that you are overcome.”
And now I feel calm and ready for the next round. Keep watch for your little parts trying to come up. Love and lead them. Hugs!
The way to peace.
It all begins with an idea.
When we dehumanize anyone we dehumanize a part of ourselves. We begin a war that causes pain outside and inside of ourselves.
When you find yourself fixating in anger/hate on any group, feel how a part of them, however small, is also inside of you. Then send love and compassion to that part of yourself.
Releasing this contraction allows us to be more peaceful, more effective and more joyful.
I’d love to use all my skills to help you find this peace for yourself.
#BlackLivesMatter
It all begins with an idea.
I can never express the depth of my love for my black and brown friends, family and clients. Thank you for calling me out and loving me even when I get it wrong.
White folks, please keep trying. You’ll one day find-They are right about their experience and we are wrong about it. Always.
Listen and sit in the pain until you understand. Please wait when you want to tell them they’re wrong about their own life. Please listen before you decided what they should or should not do. What they should or should not feel.
Here’s our chance to make the world the way we want it to be. It hurts and it’s hard but if we love harder we can do it. Please reach out if you need help.