Today's layout is a repeat of one we ran a couple of weeks ago. It is only a repeat because of a mistake by the editor who has his mind too busy with a lot of other things and he was running very late with today's commentary as a result of that and did this layout in haste before realising he was repeating the call John Chuchman made a few week's ago. As a writer I am constantly astounded though at the ways in which different layouts often give new meaning to the same words. (Different layouts are also often useful in picking up typographical and grammatical errors.) As I was doing the layout though my mind kept mulling on how all pleas or calls for unity these days are akin to pushing the proverbials up a hill with a pointy stick. There is going to be no "unity" when we have a small remnant element in society who will not allow unity unless we all agree 110% with their point of view. Is the call John makes here about as idealistic as suggesting we go off and have a rational conversation with the religious terrorists who are presently holding the whole of humanity to a king's ransom? ...BMC

A Call of Unity

Whether you express your Spirituality
by regularly attending weekly liturgies
in prescribed formats
or
by using every meal with friends and family
to express Thanksgiving
and enhance Community,
Let's agree
that We are all One
with the Creator of the Universe.

Whether you idolize
clerics, the hierarchy, the papacy, church
or
the Original Blessing, All of Creation,
Let's agree
We are all gifted and
need to be Thankful.

Whether you worship Jesus,
which He never requested
or
Emulate Jesus
which He did request,
Let's agree
He showed us the way
to Live and Love.

Whether you believe
you are part of the one true church
or
that we are all children of God
with many paths to Spiritual Growth
Let's agree
to respect each other's way.

Whether you believe
that only celibate males can be ordained
or
that All can be called to priesthood,
Let's agree
that the Creator has no gender
and can be envisioned as female and male.

Whether you believe
Gays and Lesbians are disordered
or
that we are All children of God,
Let's agree
to respect every individual’s
God-Given rights.

Whether you believe
Church hierarchy can do no wrong
or
that they are human
and can err,
Let's agree
they should be transparent and accountable
to us.

Whether you believe
the old ways are the best
or
that we must seek new ways of being church,
Let's agree
that Change is a normal part of Creation
and humans need both change and continuity.

Whether you believe
we should all do Liturgy the in the same way
or
that God’s created Diversity
should be celebrated,
Let's agree
We need to respect and honor our differences.

Whether you believe
some will suffer eternal damnation
or
we will All return to Our Creator,
Let's agree
not to
condemn people in this life.

Whether you believe
we are fallen
and needed to be redeemed
or
we are simply works in process,
Let's agree
we have the potential for perfection.

Whether you believe
Jesus died because of our sinfulness
or
because the hierarchy feared
loss of control
at his message,
Let's agree
We did not kill him.

Whether you believe the Pope
is infallible
or
Not,
Let's agree
we must all
live by our conscience.

Whether you believe
the world is evil
or
Creation is Good,
Let's agree
to be Representatives of Good.

Love, John Chuchman

It troubles me not
that your notion of church
excludes me,
for my idea of Church
includes
you.

This reflection is also published on John Chuchman's blog.

IMAGE CREDITS:
The background used to support John Chuchman's reflection has been sourced from stock.xchng one of the sources for free images on the net provided by people who voluntarily upload their work for others to share. Daniel Cubillas who is located in Spain provided today's image. A gallery of Daniel's freely available images can be found at: www.sxc.hu/gallery/dcubillas.

John Chuchman

[Index of Commentaries by John Chuchman]