May the peace of God be with you.
“…When we meet to break bread.” – Acts 20:7 NRSV
I return to this verse for its voice in our time and journey, together. We began Breaking Bread on October 1, 2019. The fact is our region has been practicing in this fuller and more sacred experience dating back to 1868, with the life of our “oldest congregation with a continuous relationship,” First Christian Church, San Bernardino. We can hold long before to this practice in the life and witnesses of the Disciples of Christ (big D and little d). Let us take a second to recognize our more than one year of breaking bread and regional ministry. Thank you for your confidence, this honor and call to serve as your Regional Minister.
In our last eight months, as a result of the pandemic, meeting to break bread has been really different in each of our communities. Some congregations have not met in person since the month of March, as a “safe” return is not easily possible or advisable (keep consulting your local health departments). Many of us are grieving the inability to meet in the same ways. But we have and will continue to break bread together, thanks to the many media platforms and technological mediums available. If the newer approaches are still not easy for for you, please don’t stop the good old newsletter, email, phone or conference call to keep breaking bread.
As Thanksgiving and Advent approaches, I imagine these times of celebrations will all be planned and experienced differently for many of us. However, in light of what is being called one of the most divisive presidential election cycles we’ve seen in recent history, I hope it is useful for us to consider “how therapists talk to their family members with different political views.” The five following italicized paraphrased recommendations come from the same entitled article written by Brittany Wong. 1. Try not to match snark with snark. 2. Manage your expectations about what you’re going to accomplish. 3. Be quick to disengage if things get too heated. 4. Remind yourself that your goal is to educate and listen, not argue. 5. Know that if you speak civilly, you’ll likely get spoken to civilly. Brittany goes on to say, “When (she) gets into arguments with (her) sister, (she tries) to communicate through body language and I-statements so that (she) can hold (their) discordant beliefs and (their) relationship at the same time. (Her sister) then usually follows (her) lead, since (they) both value the relationship.”[i]
I think there lies a good start, first for each of the sides or views to value the relationship. If we value the relationship with a family member, we will work to find some common ground, and not forget 1 John 4 “to love one another.” I hear some of our sisters and brothers who can say, what about someone’s privilege that comes at my oppression? There lies a collective opportunity and our goal, to become educated about one another’s context(s) and to help those on opposites sides or views to learn in dialogue. I came across an author who writes, “God is not restrained by (the) artificial boundaries” that we create. I accept that there are some real differences to challenge and overcome. As PSWR Clergy and Lay leaders, I hope it is one of our collective goals to help take “people from where they are to where God wants them to be.” As Disciples of Christ, we have been blessed with a long time in the Pacific Southwest and upon the earth. There have not always been agreements on everything. Praise God! We are still here. Let us continue to work toward keeping our families at the table and breaking bread, together in new and living ways.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Blessings,
Richie
P.S. I hope you enjoyed Regional Assembly this year!
[i] https://www.huffpost.com/entry/therapists-family-political-views_l_5f5a74bec5b62874bc1a1bc8