Letter from Lindy Jan 24

I confess, beloved Pilgrims, I got very little done on Wednesday.

Glued to multiple devices to bear witness to the unfolding of our country’s democratic transition. What I once believed sure, has felt truly fragile. Truthfully, for parts of pageantry, I found myself holding my breath out of fear for something untoward to happen. I was worried, not for the oath of office, nor the assundry of speeches and songs and prayers, but for the journey from Capitol to White House.

Watching the extraordinary security, brought into clear focus by the officers of the secret service, who flanked the president’s vehicle, ready as they are trained, to put themselves into harm’s way. At every stop, their bodies turned outward, eyes scanning the buildings (as there were few crowds) for signs of danger. With every stop, and especially when the first family got out of the car for a short walk to the grounds of the White House, I said a little prayer. Having participated in a few of these ceremonies of pomp and circumstance, my heart ached for our pride and joy for our democracy to be so guarded in this moment.

For this pastor, two prayers pointed to the beacon of God’s hope, and our work therein. Father Leo O’Donovan’s invocation held together the dual nature of confession and assurance to the Holy Mystery of Love who reconciles all peoples to the divine and each other. Even more spectacular was the bright ray of sunshine, our youngest poet laureate, Amanda Gorman, cast with her words in “The Hill We Climb.” She may have wondered with and for this country about where we will find light, and I think we caught a glimpse of the new dawn in her. For any who may have missed the soar of her message, you can read her poem here.

Let us lean in to their call to all God’s people “somehow weathered and witnessed, a nation that isn’t broken, but simply unfinished.” And we, beloved community, respond amen. Amen.

Epiphany Light,
Pastor Lindy