By putting people on a stage, complete with lighting, smoke machines and video on the screens around them, we contribute to the cult of personality which I think sometimes does us a dis-service.
This past week, we were reminded that the world in which we live and work is broken.
You might have seen the e-news that spoke of Bishop Stephen Marsh, of the Southeast Michigan Synod. He was scheduled to be one of our keynote speakers at E2011 in Kansas City. When we booked him, we were really excited for the opportunity. We had read his work in The Lutheran magazine, and we had heard of his great speaking and easy-going nature. We were very excited that he was going to be with us for the event. A news release from the ELCA reported that he resigned his position in his synod to tend to personal and emotional issues that are connected to some form of addiction. He would be entering into an in-patient treatment program. We were contemplating how to best offer Bishop Marsh a release from his obligation to speak, if he wished, when we received an e-mail from him asking to be excused.
We were deeply saddened to hear this news. Not because he won't be with us at the E (which does sadden us), but because of the personal pain he must be experiencing.
We are reminded that we are all held "captive by sin and cannot free ourselves." It doesn't matter who we are. It doesn't matter if God has called us to be a speaker on a large stage (complete with lighting and smoke machines) or if our venue is a small, musty youth room tucked in a corner room in the church basement.
It is easy to look at a stage and admire or idolize those who come to speak. It is easy to wish that we were like them. But often, when we do so, we find ourselves comparing what we know about our own lives to what we don't know about that other person's life. We forget that these people also live and work in the real world...the same world in which we all live and work...the same world in which we all trip and fall.
Bishop Marsh: Please know that you will be in our prayers as you walk this journey. The same God who walks with us in our brokeness, walks with you today. The same God who called you in the waters of baptism, continues to call you out of your brokeness. The same God who heals, brings you healing. You are not alone in this.
And please know that you have an open invitation to return to the Extravaganza in the future; not because of your tremendous communication abilities, but becuase you are a beloved child of God, and you have a story to tell. We are anxious to hear it.
God bless you.
Networked in Christ,
Todd.
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