Cassie E. Brown

I love someone in my church and I am scared to tell them the truth (as I see it) because it will hurt them. If it hurts, is it the truth? ⚓️

This echoed in my head while my priest read the gospel today, so, thanks?

I firmly believe that there was a good reason for Jesus to be born how he was to who he was, virginity and all, AND simultaneously as a childfree (& incapable of birth due to health defects) person I sure do wish God would do some more miracles for women that don't involve pregnancy ⚓

Also, God’s kingdom is a responsibility of all the baptized. We are called to do this thing.

One may be incomplete. Building is a process. It is about the process. The other presumes something finished and grand. Moving a mountain. Something greater than a mountain. I don’t believe in Heaven on earth. I believe in building (process) the kingdom of heaven on earth. Not the same.

Build the kingdom or bring it to earth are two radically different ideas. I draw a distinction between building up the kingdom of God and bringing God’s coming again in glory. I don’t believe they are at all the same thing. I believe we are called to build up the kingdom of God, not heaven on earth.

The labile anger of a brain injury. It all clicked. Anyway. It was an Instagram reel that drove me back to a close read of Exodus and I am not mad about it. ⚓️

And the speech so heavy, so dysarthric he needs his brother to speak for him. To hear and interpret his words. I understood that. I heard and interpreted for my sister’s speech too. Moses’s sin is always an inability to trust he is good enough, that he is strong enough. Breaking the tablets?

I know, I know… not Easter. But reading a disabled Moses, a man whose being reflected oppression and survival, God’s chosen as a person gifted to show capacity where none is expected, really gave me some comfort and joy last night. Aaron as the caregiving, supportive brother? A mobility aid staff?

Read Exodus 1-15 last night through the lens of “did Moses’s speech impediment come from an acquired brain injury secondary to drowning? If so, to what degree was his intellect or other functioning impacted?” Remember his name meant “pulled from the water” not “pulled from a basket.” ⚓️

Prayers for you in this (northern hemisphere) darkest time of year.

Said no to an important possibility for serving within my Diocese. I am positively made of big yes energy. Saying no is unnatural to me. But I couldn’t bring myself to say yes here? I am calling it the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit and moving on. PS: it still sucks. ⚓️

Hard to do this… I am struggling this Advent. I am sad. I am very blue. It feels so dark and the light, so distant. Looking inward, all I see are restless ghosts: the absence of those who never lived to see this Christmas. Tears come more easily than prayers. Appreciate anything y’all have for me.🕯️

Follow up: wait, YOUR ex? Gullible. Check.

Solid!!!!

We will, with God’s help.

Hey Narthex. I will be leading compline for my church for the three Thursday nights in Advent, in person at the church and online. It will be my first time being responsible for a service series. I am very excited. Compline is precious to me, but it’s still a little intimidating.🕯️

I rolled into the pew very tired. Perfect start to the season for me, as I stayed awake in the middle of a cold, still dark with those seeking refuge at our community’s warming shelter. Reminded me of everything good and hard about this season. It was a blessing.

Thanks! Me too.

It would be canonical to say her heart grew three sizes. But it didn’t. It healed. Like any other living thing, a heart needs time and nurturing to heal. Every time I see her smiling her grinchy smile, I see a heart, whole and healthy and ready to wreak mischief.

Year after year brought more people laughing, more presents and candy she would “steal” from tables, more smiles, and more joy. And this year, she is the invited entertainment for a party for terminally and chronically ill children for a local foundation that grants wishes to families.

She bought a Grinch costume for the holiday party for disabled adults they served and asked my mom to wear it. So she did. And everyone loved it! Including my mom!! More folks wanted pics with her mischievous and terrible Grinch than Santa! It was game on…

She bah-hum-bugged when she had to deal with the excessive expectations of the holiday. She turned away a broken heart from merrymaking and showed up grinned gritted teeth when forced to. She earned the nickname “Grinch” from friends. Until one year, a friend saw an opportunity.

Several bright green Grinch masks and parts and pieces of Grinch costumes laid across a picnic checked tablecloth.

My mother is the Grinch. Not in a metaphorical or allegorical sense. She dresses up as the season’s villain, and has for years, for parties for disabled adults. This is how she found her way back to Christmas. Sweating in a green fur costume. Because Christmas hurt. She had buried a child & husband.

I … will show myself out.

Be there or be square. Or better yet, a Rubrics Cube.

@scottagunn.bsky.social I just saw your name on the book I had used in a church class today, did a double take and said, “wait… I see that guy ALL THE TIME on Narthex!” Doublechecked your bio and for sure. It’s you!!

a cartoon character says fight scene fight scene we 're gonna have a fight scene yarn.co Alt: A cartoon man marching in a white tank top looking middle aged and silly says “fight scene fight scene we 're gonna have a fight scene” and then puts on a wig

Ooooh.

I get your impulse! I think the best we have on the “no really, gay people are fine, God loves people, everyone included” side is radical action, solidarity, and protest. (So, clerical collars at Pride, crosses while picketing , etc) I think showing up in action spaces AS Christians IS the message.

It is a good time for well tailored wool vests over collared shirts, argyle sweaters, ties in complementary colors, etc.

Of course… If the question is, “should I be a fancy boy?” The answer is yes, yes always.