Clergy from left, The Rev. Mary Ann Hill, Rector, Trinity on the Hill, Pastor Nicolé Ferry, Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired; Associate Priest Lynn Finnegan and Pastor Deb Church. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
By Pastor Nicolé Raddu Ferry
Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church
On Thursday, July 4th the United States of America will celebrate its 248th year of independence. 248 years of a great experiment that has worked to bring a diverse group of people together, to create a country where opportunities are for everyone, where individuals give of their lives to support and protect a democracy that matters and where life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are the foundation of the United States of America. And yet … things are not as they should be. On the night of the first 2024 presidential debate, I re-read Frederick Doulgass’ What does the fourth of July mean to America’s marginalized Citizens? Mr. Douglass spoke this speech July 5, 1852 and dear ones, we continue to try to live according to our country’s ideals which are not part of our reality. To read his speech in its entirety: https://readingpartners.org/blog/what-does-the-fourth-of-july-mean-to-americas-marginalized-citizens/ and to be moved by his descendants reading it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBe5qbnkqoM.
Then as I struggled with a heavy heart knowing that we can be so much better than what we see on social media, I was blessed to open boomtownlosalamos@substack.com. This insightful local article highlighted a reality that is for the good of everyone. An article entitled: “A Desperate Need for Empathy” written by Samantha Rose McRae highlighted creating a respectful caring community within a sixth-grade curriculum. As I mentioned during the last All Shall Be Well article, COVID brought great challenges to our community (and the world) and that impact has been heavy on our children. And yet…
Three teachers at Mountain School chose to create an experiment to address the concerns they saw by using Harvard’s “Making Caring Common” curriculum. I love the vision this curriculum holds: to create “a world in which children learn to care about others and the common good, treat people well day to day, come to understand and seek fairness and justice and do what is right even at a cost to themselves.” Do you hear a little echo from our forefather’s hopes for the US?
Within the faith traditions we hold, we are asked to consider questions Jesus’ followers had before them. Maybe, just maybe, Jesus knows something we don’t. You see, I think Jesus knows that those answers we seek won’t give us what we hope for. So instead he gives us questions which cause us to think, to dissect our lives, and to see what’s ultimately important.
Questions such as: “Who do people say I am? Who do you say I am?” (Mark 8:27-29; Luke 9:18-20; Matthew 16:13-15) “What are you looking for?” (John 1:38) And my personal favorite: “Do you want to get well?” (John 5:6)
Questions are greater than answers.
This shouldn’t be too much of a shock. Think of the people who made the biggest impact in your life. Is it the person who lectured you on all things true? Or the person who listened and helped you reflect on life? This my friends is the gift of a faith community. A space to be listened to as you ask questions that bring freedom.
During the Pride Festival in Los Alamos, I had an amazing young adult come up to our church’s table and say: “I really do not think you want to hear my questions.” I said: “Oh let’s try.” The questions were honest. The questions were so helpful to understand the experience they had. The questions brought relationship.
So dear ones, as you celebrate this day, this 4th of July, please ask the hard questions: Is this freedom we have in the US for everyone? Can our churches handle questions that may challenge our institutions? Are we willing to live into questions that matter for “making caring common?” Are we willing to live with empathy in a time of desperate need? We live in Los Alamos “where discoveries are made.” May love, compassion, and curiosity guide us in our journey.
Amen and amen.
Editor’s note: ‘All Shall Be Well’ is a column written by local women clergy including ELCA Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, M.Div., retired (czoebidd@gmail.com); Pastor Nicolé Ferry, Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church (pastornicole@bethluth.com); Associate Priest Lynn Finnegan, The Episcopal Church of the Holy Faith, Santa Fe (rev.lynn@holyfaithchurchsf.org); Pastor Deb Church, White Rock Presbyterian Church (pastor@wrpchurch.com) and The Rev. Mary Ann Hill, Rector, Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church (momaryannhill@gmail.com).