#AdventWord #Mountains

                      Me on a trail somewhere in Western North Carolina. Photo by Brian

Today's word is MOUTAINS. 

Life is a series of mountaintop and deep valley experiences. 

There is no doubt in my mind that most of us have seen more than our share of " valley time" during the past few years. A global pandemic, a contested election, a near coup of our government, too much gun violence to name, and now the scary situation in Ukraine weighs heavy on our collective hearts. 

 Many of us also have gone through our own valleys. Illness {or illness of a loved one.}Death.  The end of a marriage. The loss of a relationship. Retirement or unemployment. Financial stress. School stress. Any one of these situations can bring our hearts to a deep " valley." 

There is no way around it-- there are times that we find ourselves in the valley looking up at the mountains-- wishing and praying that we could be there, too. 

The good news for we Christ-followers is that each year brings a promise of HOPE. The sacred stories that we read and hear during advent remind us how Creator Adonai loves we human so much that They {Creator God} brought Themself {somehow} down from the Eternal Mountains to Earth. the Creator of all chose to come live among us-- to arrive on earth as a tiny human. God-As-Human chose to come at a time in history that was fraught with political unrest and racial distrust.  They chose to grow into a Jewish rabbi living in occupied Roman territory. 

He/They, the Person of Jesus Christ, is LOVE incarnate. Rather than staying on the mountain, God joined us here in all our human messiness. 

That, friends, is LOVE. 

Our Creator God understands our mountains and valleys, as Jesus lived these same situations. 

Amen. 

Sarah Beth McCarren 

 
 

#AdventWord #Teach

                                          My little scientist, proudly holding a cup of Atomic Pee {don't ask} that she made with the chemistry set. 

Today's Advent word is #TEACH. 

During our Thanksgiving break, I got to spend some one-on-one time with my niece, " L" .  In addition to making art { which is our go-to activity for Auntie- Niece Time} we had some messy, gooey fun using a chemistry set that was called _ Gross Chemistry Set_. 

My nephew was entrenched in World Cup Soccer, but L {not the sports fan} was eager to explore the contents of the Gross Chemistry Set. I, being weary of sports on TV, was more than willing to join L in the makeshift chemistry lab in the basement. 

It was so much fun!

I'm grateful for this time to #teach, by example that two female persons can explore science together. While I am a HUGE proponent of arts' education--- I also know that STEM is equally important. As a person who was a child in the 1980's I remember being shifted away from things like chemistry sets, building sets {such as Erector sets, which thankfully my brother owned at home} 

Thank God for progressive parents who let us read and play with anything within reason when we were growing up. I played with Erector Sets. My brother played with dolls. We are both well-rounded adults. 

By spending quality time with my niece engaging in science, I showed her that " girls"  also can enjoy STEM-related activities.

Little people are watching and listening. Teach them that toys such as chemistry sets and baby dolls are for all children. 

Amen. 

Sarah Beth McCarren 

#Adventword #Together

 

#AdventWord #together .

Today's devotional is a photo. Brian and I just returned from a wonderful Thanksgiving at my brother & sister-in-law's home in Atlanta.

This photo says a lot about what the Advent/ Christmastide season means to me: Bringing people TOGETHER. We were a motley crew of people of different ages, ethnicities, & experiences who came together from all over the southern USA to " break bread" with kin.

I give thanks that my family is a literal picture of what it means for Americans to come together as members of the Human Family.

My priest, the Reverend Colonel Susan+ Sowers { US Army} mentioned in her sermon yesterday about how Buffalo residents-- after the tragedy in their city-- came TOGETHER to #ChooseLove , one city, one very diverse population. During the Thanksgiving football game, the Bills' helmets added a sticker that said, " Choose Love". I'm grateful that my family represents the best of what it means to be Americans.

We are all individuals, and that is important. However, coming together-- as a family, a faith community, or as a nation to break bread is essential.

Amen

Sarah Beth

#AdventWord #Walk A Letter to Someone in Heaven

 

Dear Doc:

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, 2022. Brian and I just came home from an incredible family weekend in Atlanta. I'm reminded of two things 1} You always said that Thanksgiving was your very favorite holiday. 2} You shared with me how much you loved Advent-- even though you faithfully served a church in a Christian tradition that does not observe Advent. 

Today's Advent Word is WALK

I'm remined of how you and I walked through life together for twenty-two years. I'd open my email and see at least one long email chain discussion between us. 

Even now: there are so many times when I want to share news by starting an e-mail with " Dear Doc". For instance, The University Of West Florida football team won their playoff game in a BIG fourth-quarter comeback. If you were still walking this Earth with me, we'd have a UWF football thread every week of the season!

When I stumbled during my walk with Christ, you were there to help me regain my footing. You were the best teacher of " life-lessons" that I ever knew. You were humble enough to know that you had more to learn, and that is why I respected you. 

You never judged me-- even when we had some clear disagreements. We walked together, but you were wise enough to let me figure out where MY Christian walk would take me. 

You were, and still are that Christian Wise Elder {though your soul never aged} 

You were more than a former college choir director; you were my walking companion for over two decades. During those years, we both walked each other through some joyous and sad things. I knew I could count on you to be a wise presence in my life, and I hope that I brought a different perspective to your life. 

You walked me through my entire time at The University of West Florida. I'm especially fond of that summer term that I spent on campus: you'd take me to lunch on Wednesdays after we both finished with school for the day 

You played for my college commencement I know you were scheduled to do so, but it meant the world to me that you were there when I walked across that podium. 

You played for my wedding and refused to take any money. As I walked with Brian down the aisle, I looked up and smiled as you played 'Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee' on the organ. 

I'm glad I was gifted the short time I had with you during those last weeks of your Earthly walk. In my mind's eye, you are still the beautiful, talented " Doc" Lynne whom I met at UWF all those years ago. The walk we shared together between our first meeting in the Rehearsal Hall at UWF and my last visit with you in your home are some of the best years of my life. 

I love you and miss you, Doc. I pray my walk on Earth going forward is a credit to your memory. 

Love

Sarah

Standing WITH the Victims and Community of Club Q

 

Again, I ask the question " How long, how long, how long must we sing this song?" ~U2

Another senseless hate crime that resulted in the deaths of 5 innocent people and injuring many others. 

People who were murdered for being their authentic selves. 

Innocent people murdered on a night that was supposed to be fun. 

Once again, hatred has toxified another space where LGBTQ+ people should feel safe. 

Once again, Americans reap what we've sowed for the past few years. 

I'm tired, y'all. Furthermore, I'm pissed off. 

I do all the things. I vote. I do my best to be an agent of hope and peace for all Americans. {yes, even those who insist on supporting hatred. }

All I can do is stand with people affected by this hate crime, both in Colorado Springs and here in Pensacola. I wish I could do more, but I am but one person with finite resources. 

As a Christian, I'm disgusted by how the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, Himself a victim of state violence, to justify hatred of minorities. They forget that Jesus was a Jew in occupied Roman Empire territory, and that He found trouble for challenging the religious authorities of His day. 

I am one, but I do have a voice. 

Hate crimes are disgusting. As an American of Jewish descent, the effects of the European Holocaust are woven into my very DNA. For the past few years, I've noticed a resurgence of violence against Americans who are " the other" to the dwindling straight WASP rich Americans who have controlled this nation for too damn long. 

Scared, scrawny White boys usually are the perpetuators of such crimes. They feel powerless, so they try to take back some of " their" power by use of force. To me, this smack of Roman soldiers' reactionary acts and not of Jesus' Way of Love. 

I pray this prayer daily: 

For His Sake, I am one

I am but one, but I am one

I cannot do everything

but I can do something. 

What I can do, I ought to do

What I ought to do, by the grace of God, I will do. 

LORD, what will YOU have me do?  ~ Motto of The Order of The Daughters of The King 

What CAN I do to stop hate crimes?  Prayer should lead to action, but at this point I cannot see what I ought to do to end hate-fueled violence. 

I'm stuck. 

Be Kind...

Sarah Beth McCarren 

A Week From Election: 2022

 

Tonight, marks one week from the General Election, 2022. I've done a fair job of trying to stay away from political ads on TV{ We don't watch much} and even watching debates of races that I vote in-- I need to maintain my sanity. 

In Florida, I am worried about my future and the future of people I love. 

With Roe V Wade overturned, several mothers of daughters I know are having touch talks with their young women at ages when I-- and my age peers-- were still building forts in the backyard. Thank God I grew up in the 1980s-- life was far from perfect then, but at least my parents didn't need to worry about their fifth grader falling pregnant by an assault and forced to carry to term. This is the reality that parents and other caregivers of preteen girls face with the erasure of Roe in a state whose lawmakers pander to a certain ideology that strips half of the population of body autonomy. 

I am past child-bearing age, but I care about the health and welfare of those who are{ or who soon will be} of childbearing age. 

Florida's lawmakers are chipping away at the civil rights of the state's non-straight citizens-- and reserving special venomous for transgender people. Recently the medical board of this " great state" chose to deny lifesaving medical care to transgender children. Again, this was made due to some lobbying by people with misinformed and hate filled opinions on gender. 

I vote.  I have volunteered on a campaign. I text banked. { and got some ugly replied from Floridians} I show up for legal demonstrations. I show up on campus wearing a purple " Free Mom Hugs" in support of young LGBTQ+ persons. 

Insurance rates for homeowners will rise-- and companies will drop whom they choose. 

Why? The simple fact is that Big Corporations have more rights than living, breathing people. 

What I've earned for all my efforts is some people who should love me unconditionally choose not to talk to me. 

I voted, knowing damn well that Florida will do what Florida does best lately-- pander to the hatred that rose to the surface in recent years. 

I'm tired. I'm PISSED-OFF!  Yet I am never ashamed to be on the correct side-- the JUST side-- of history. 

As a child and young voter, I took pride in Election Day. Sadly, voting seems like a chore now-- a chore that will not bring light to many law-abiding, tax-paying Americans. I'm fortunate in that I carry a lot of privilege, and that is why I want others to have the necessities available to me. 

Namaste...

Sarah Beth

Called By Name: Sarah Beth.

 "But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. ."

 ~ Isaiah 43 1-28

No one listens to prophets, but that is a whole other discussion for a later time. 

A sermon I heard lately a sermon on names, and the importance of names, has me thinking a lot about my own identity.  

My legal name {and the one my parents bestowed upon me at birth} is Sarah Elizabeth McCarren. Mom says that she chose this name in part for the way the sounds blend together. I chose to keep this name when I married, as it has always been my legal name and I like the way it reflects both my parents' heritage. 

Sarah {called Sarai first in the Hebrew scriptures} was to be the matriarch of God's People. Elizabeth, a cousin of The Blessed Virgin, be game pregnant with John the Baptizer at a later age.  

Both of these names are prominent in Scripture, and both reflect the strength of women whom God calls to do things that seem impossible. 

I like my name a lot, so I kept it. Legally, I've never been called by any other name but that by which I was given at birth and affirmed at baptism. 

Most people call me Sarah. I've never had a nickname, as no one called me " Sally" or {shudder "Sadie" . I was always just Sarah-- with an H. It still irks me when people I know misspell my name. For instance, a person I've known and loved for over four decades still writes " to Brian and SARA" on our yearly Christmas card. 

Please, my name is Sarah, not Sara.  It is an ancient name in the spelling I use: Sarah. Thank you. 

When Brian and I got together, he started calling me Sarah Beth. Not having grown up in the South, the concept of double naming was foreign to me. Other people in our circle started calling me Sarah Beth, and gladly accepted this newish name. 

When we moved to Pensacola and transferred our parish affiliation to St Christopher's, I thought long about what version of my name I wanted people to call me. 

At this stage of life, I am Sarah Beth. Of course, I answer to Sarah, but I want my name tag to reflect who God is calling me to be now.  When the bishop came a few years ago and I re-affirmed my faith, the name I asked him to use was Sarah Beth. 

God sees us and knows us by name. Some people change their names when they marry. Others change their name as part of becoming their true gender. 

Nonetheless, God knows us and calls us as God's own. Making an effort to get a person's name correct { including  correct SPELLING } says that you see that person as a beloved member of the human family. 

Amen

Sarah Beth McCarren

10/10/22