Csquared Thoughts

Grace (Eventually)

I had the pleasure of listening to Anne Lamott on my favorite radio program, West Coast Live (WCL) yesterday. Her new book Grace (Eventually) is due out Tuesday and is already on its way to me from Amazon.

Anne was on WCL last winter and talked about how she no longer had a huge emotional charge on George W. I was amazed at the time, and reflected on how much better she was doing than I was. Yesterday, she said, "I still think Bush is an evil idiot. I say that with love." She goes on to say "But I have to say, I don't hate him." Yes, she's doing better than I am.

She talks about how at her church, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Marin City, they would have a time in the service when people could go to the altar and ask for prayer. She brought her feelings about W forward and described how her pastor never judged her for her feelings. And she eventually got past them. She's doing better than I am.

But this also tells us something about the importance of our common worship. Individual devotion isn't enough. We must worship together with our sisters and brothers.

Anne goes on to paraphrase the Gospels.

You have to love everyone. I'm sorry. Deal with it.

That does capture the gist of Jesus' message. She's doing better than I am. I'm still working on it.

Mutual Gentleness, Mercy, & Forgiveness for All

I was reminded of this quote when I received an Epiphany card from my former priest at All Saints' Palo Alto, now retired in Wisconsin.

It was read by Dean Alan Jones of Grace Cathedral, at the end of his Forum conversation with Anne Lamott. I included it in my Advent letter sent to a number of friends, but failed to incorporate into my blog. I want to correct that omission.

Aidan Kavanaugh was a Catholic liturgist and Benedictine who died in 2006. His sense of Benedictine hospitality gives us a clear vision and sets a high bar regarding what the church should be all about.

 

The Church is always inviting all people home, where soup still simmers on the back of the stove in from the cold of impersonal process to the simple warmth of dinner among friends both human and Divine. Here there are no bottom lines only laughter and good red wine, mutual gentleness and mercy and forgiveness for all.