Minister’s Column
Last night we commemorated the Transgender Day of Remembrance in our sanctuary, with a small group from our congregation and some guests from other liberal religious groups in town. The event is somber because it is built around naming and honoring victims of violence who are transgender—a group that suffers death by murder and by suicide at a much higher rate than the general population. In addition to lament and grief, we strove last night for the solidarity of community and for the naming of hope.
Today while perusing social media I saw something that caught my attention, a post attributed to Danielle LaPorte. Here is an abridged version of it:
Right now there are Tibetan Buddhist monks in a temple in the Himalayas endlessly reciting mantras for the cessation of your suffering and for the flourishing of your happiness.
Nuns in the Alps are in endless vigil, praying for the Holy Spirit to alight the hearts of all of God's children.
Thousands of people are in yoga classes right now intentionally sending light out from their heart chakras and wrapping it around the earth.
Millions of children are assuming that everything is amazing and will always be that way.
Some civil servant is making sure that you get your mail, and your garbage is picked up, that the trains are running on time, and that you are generally safe.
Someone is dedicating their days to protecting your civil liberties and clean drinking water.
Someone is regaining their sanity.
Someone is genuinely forgiving the seemingly unforgivable.
This incredibly hopeful and concrete social media post feels like a needed counterpoint to the Transgender Day of Remembrance. One is a somber recognition of the harmful and hateful reality of anti-trans violence—the worst of human nature. The other is a naming of some of the best of human nature: Prayer. Innocent and happy children. Public service. Dedication to peace.
The mystery of this life, of being human, is that we contain good and evil within us. We contain good and evil in our families, in our communities of every size. The violence and hatred are so easy to see. The harm done is so stark. Sometimes the goodness done by humans is harder to see. I love Danielle LaPorte’s words because her examples are so vivid. Let us remember that there is good in the world—right now, as we live and breathe. Let us seek to connect to that goodness and to be part of it.
PRAYER
Spirit of Life and Love, may we join with the Buddhist monks, with the Catholic nuns, with the yogis and the children and the civil servants. May we put forth the intentions of our spirits toward love and peace; may we extend the efforts of our minds and bodies toward building and mending and healing. May life prosper and thrive on this earth, in our lifetimes.
May it be so.
Rev. Drew Frantz
November 21, 2023