Dear Harbor Friends,
Grace and peace to you. This is my letter to you; not a newsletter article but a letter. I have wanted to speak about the recent events in our country. I have also not wanted to speak to you about those events. As I write, it is Inauguration Day. I’m nervous and hopeful. I’m offering you part of me, who I am, right now, rather than a reflection and a neat and nice devotion.
I could not stand to watch as people forced their way in. I was still basking in the great hope for a new year, to put 2020 behind us. And I was thinking about Epiphany and epiphanies and that fact that I know a person named Epiphany and how epiphany is about light and what things might be revealed this Epiphany Day.
For me, personally, it feels like what happened did reveal something we already knew was there. While I was surprised this particular action could happen in our country, I already knew intensely strong feelings existed and were being acted upon in other ways throughout the country. The part I did watch made me deeply sad.
In a way I went into grief mode quickly. I wanted 2021 to feel differently. People are still dying and still the vulnerable are not respected or cared for by wearing masks. And now we have people attacking what is supposed to be one of the safest, highly guarded places in the world? The hate, the disrespect and disregard, the lack of decency . . . the idea that this was somehow right . . . the racism, white supremacy, inequality . . . overwhelms.
I have wanted to speak. I have wanted to pray. I have held onto the fact that when you don’t know how to pray the Holy Spirit intervenes and prays for us (Romans 8:26-27). The Lord’s Prayer has given me words as well. I am working on hope again, looking up and out. I am seeking guidance to lead with wisdom, with action, with courage. You are invited to join me in a renewed commitment to lead our congregations in anti-racism and in promoting God’s word of love and hope for all people. We have resources to show the way of God’s love in the midst of so much hate; let’s use them!
I’ve just let you into some of my inner thoughts. They are not earth-shattering but real. I don’t have all the answers, none of us do. My great hope is that we will rely on the collective wisdom of one another, past and present, as we seek to guide our congregations and communities to a peaceful, hope-filled 2021 and beyond. As we move toward Ash Wednesday and Lent, our focus will be on Isaiah 58. It is a great scripture to read, study, reflect upon and will draw us together in the next season together as a conference.
May God’s peace be with you today and fill you with hope.
Tara
If you would like to view past editions of Time with Tara, follow this link: https://harbordistrictnc.org/category/from-the-ds/