Bethany Fox ✨

Let's respond to RFK's ignorant statements about autism by pointing out not just that many autistic folks have the aptitudes he's saying they don't, but also that human value is not based on capitalism and whether someone can "hold a job." Even people who can't/don't do these things are worthy.

I do not believe in a society that scapegoats its own systemic problems onto the bodies of those who have been broken by it. I do not believe in a society that thinks an indiscriminate iron fist is the way to build peace. Lord, have mercy. America, have mercy.

I believe sometimes people do need help, and/or restraint. I believe we all have the potential to do horrible things (and beautiful things) if pushed in certain ways.

Regarding the haphazard imprisonment and deportation of folks in the US: I believe in a God who does not throw people away. I believe in a God who, even if people do something wrong, loves them and regards them as beloved children.

People bagging on the one day economic blackout (which will certainly not hurt anything) for being useless or ineffective, while at the same time not offering meaningful alternatives or ideas, can take their critical energy and read about how organizing momentum works.

It's so wild to me that as kids we were taught that if we saw someone with a visible disability not to stare but to ask how they became disabled. So invasive 😂 A bunch of kids just asking your life story every day in the grocery store. Who made up this rule? 😅😭

"If you want peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies." Desmond Tutu

I hope preachers who have so enthusiastically applied the previous weeks' lectionary texts to current events will keep up the trend this week. Loving our enemies makes followers of Jesus distinct from political compatriot echo chambers. No one is outside of God's belovedness. No one.

Yes! I say these ALL THE TIME. So useful.

Ooooh a workaround. I like it.

Read Black Writers Read Black writers all the time. Always. For the month of Feb we're recommending a book a day to highlight great voices, so compiling here. 

The MF can try to cancel Black History Month

but it's still Black History Month.

(You should always be reading Black writers. All the time. But here's a list if you wanna get in the mood.)

Oof. I feel you. Stuff around money and death brings out people's shadows in ways I'd rather not see.

I know it isn't possible bc of privacy concerns, but when someone has checked out a very niche book at the public library and I have to wait for them to return it, I want the library to give me their contact info bc I always think we could be great friends.

“A man, a plan, a canal, Panama."
The famous palindrome just hits different these days.

The posts that say "If your preacher doesn't say X, Y, Z in THIS PARTICULAR WAY on Sunday you should leave your church!" feel so immature and reactionary. There are so many truths that need to be spoken in these days; let the wise Spirit lead you. If your preacher speaks lies, that's another story.

Absolutely. And even beyond as a workforce, simply indispensable as fellow humans, too. In general a timely call to align ourselves alongside the poor, captives, etc.

AMEN AMEN AMEN. You go with your kpop love 💛 So weird to judge what people are allowed to like by something as arbitrary as age! I'm with you.

True! But in shielding from pain, I caused a different pain making him feel like his interests were weird or wrong. It's like parents who put their kids on a diet bc they know the world will be mean to them if they're chubby, and all they accomplish is making their chubby kids feel unsafe with them.

People can be so judgmental though, it's easy to want to assimilate. I remember my spouse wanted to put a stuffed Psyduck on his backpack years ago, and I was critical bc I knew as a grown man he'd get flack, so I convinced him not to. But in retrospect, I wish I hadn't.

My fellow lectionary preachers, they really teed us up for this Sunday, eh?

I think people appreciate engagement from their friends. "Works" can be mysterious to pin down.

What if we start saying "man pastor."

Yep! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

I love the older folks in my congregation. We have some younger folks too, but most are seniors. They're so awesome.

If you're nearish to LAX, then, "Hi, it's me."

YES! Thank you. Not just pushing back and saying NO, but also working toward the YES we want to see in the world.

I'm going to check out that novel, thanks! Sounds really compelling.

It may be a good time to recall that almost 100 yrs ago wealthy businessmen hatched a scheme to weaken progressive Christianity because the social gospel wasn’t conducive to corporate profits. They poured $$$ into Chr orgs that preached a different tune: the gospel of free market capitalism.

What is one teeny tiny everyday way you are making our world better? Let's encourage each other and share ideas.

I'll go first. When my dogs poop on our walks, and there's other poop right nearby, I'll pick up all of it.

Watching the final of Great British Bakeoff (finally) and thinking how because of the short times to make everything, this sometimes feels like an executive function challenge instead of a baking one (well, both, anyway).