The Sacred on the Street Devotion Four: Brother-hood
This is the Fourth of the Lenten Meditations by Deb Murphy based on her exhibit, “The Sacred on the Street.” This week’s Devotion is “Brother-hood.” You can download this devotion by going here.
“Thin places” are those places and spaces where we encounter God, the Divine, the Holy. I chose the title “Brother-hood” (in spite of a lack of inclusivity) because of the photographic opportunity that arose to look at the hood in church and on the street. This monk (and often other clerics) wears a hooded robe. The kid on the park bench is wearing today’s manifestation of the hood, usually referred to as a “hoodie.”
…don’t let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right after him, and you say to the man in the suit, “Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house!” and either ignore the street person or say, “Better sit here in the back row,” haven’t you segregated God’s children…? …God operates quite differently…He chose the world’s down-and-out as the kingdom’s first citizens, with full rights and privileges. This kingdom is promised to anyone who loves God.
James 2:1-5 (The Message Bible)
It is easy to let our first impressions categorize people and deal with them as a stereotype, although we are familiar with the old ‘looks can be deceiving’ adage.
And I’m sure by now, you know I’ve set you up. The young man hanging out on the park bench is really one of the nicest young actors I’ve ever worked with (although he did provide the wardrobe for the shoot from his own closet).
Some questions to ponder:
- The obvious question: Have I ever treated people in the way pointed out in thebook of James – either in church or elsewhere?
- The next questions: Did I realize at some point that I had done that? How did I feel about what I had done? How difficult was it to admit to myself?
- Lastly: What did I do about it – right then with that person? Later, in my dealing with others in other situations?
O Divine One,We come together to encounter, worship, praise and thank you for all your love and care of us. Help us to remember that every stranger could be you, that by taking care of the down and out and the marginalized, we show our love of you. May we constantly and consistently show your love to a world that so desperately needs it. Amen
