Seeking Authentic Voice

 A reflection on 1 Kings 8:(1,6,10-11), 22-30, 41-43, Proper 16B Thursday night, curious about what they would say, I watched Rock Center with Brian Williams, and its report on the Mormon Church.   Born into a Mormon family in Salt Lake City, I am a descendent of pioneers who put their “heart to song, their shoulder to the wheel” and travelled across this country in order to live their faith in peace and prosperity. Rock Center’s report spoke of the values of the Mormon faith: hard work, strong family ties, deep faith, and a commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ as they understand it. By the time the report was over I found myself wondering why I left the church. I was a faithful member for the first fourteen years of my life. My parents were married in the temple. I was baptized by full immersion in the baptismal pool in the building known as the tabernacle on Temple Square.   (In case you don’t know how special Mormon’s think that is, you just have t...

This is one of those occasions when there is nothing one can really say about what is going in the life of the congregation, and yet every reason to convey a nonanxious presence. Here is a reflection on the Proper 16B, 1 Kings 8: 22-30, 41-43; Psalm 84, with the intention of being light.... After church, Robbie tells his parents he has to go and talk to the minister right away. They agree and the pastor greets the family. "Pastor," Robbie says, "I heard you say today that our bodies came from the dust." "That's right, Johnny, I did." "And I heard you say that when we die, our bodies go back to dust." "Yes, I'm glad you were listening. Why do you ask?" "Well you better come over to our house right away and look under my bed 'cause there's someone either comin' or goin'!" What makes a joke funny? The way in which it points to the truth about human nature? The playfulness of an unexpected outcome? Our scri...