lent, day 32

started the day with three full short passes, and then all just church corners.

handful of honk and waves early.

at some point brian godwin of the williston federated church trustees came out to offer me the comment that walking with the sign isn't making me popular inside.

thanks, captain obvious.

and then he wanted me to know they were having some kind of big meeting about it today, as if i ought to be impressed.

"it's no concern of mine" i told him.

and he asked what i thought of in terms of resolution.

"i have found a resolution. this is what it looks like. now if you'll excuse me, i have walking to do."

and i walked.

at 9:10 the man in the tan car went by. he rolled down his window and said good morning and also "god bless you."

people waved.

i walked.

a carload of catholic religious went by and expressed their extreme disapproval, which only figures. that's a group of people who have a fairly limited number of predictable responses.

at 11:20 tan car man went by again.

when tony lamb said "if that's true, we have to fire the pastor", what i heard was "we do not intend to find the truth and we will prefer to simply call what happened to you a lie."

i therefore am making it my work to cause an entire congregation to have to examine itself rather carefully.

how do we respond to sexual assault when it happens within our congregation? how do we protect and care for the victim? DO we protect and care for the victim? or do we sweep it under the rug? are we the banishing sort? are all really welcome at this table? how do we punish those who speak up?

it's odd, but they're having to talk about this a LOT more than if i'd just been permitted to stay and mend my own fences.

oh, well.

it's a growth opportunity.