I have returned home from a weekend at a Liturgist Gathering in Seattle, WA.
I celebrated a spiritual, recovering life with roughly 900 other people.
I haven't spent much time processing what occurred, the notes I took, the people I met. I've been to several similar gatherings now and I am starting to feel some similarities in the people and vibe of the events.
I realized a long time ago that many of these teachers and speakers are focusing on different areas of focus. The Liturgists really focus on getting people together to be together and to learn together. I haven't yet been to an event where I felt this was an intentional, underlying value of the event.
While I have tried to avoid specifically thinking through much and just experiencing things, a few thoughts are floating to the top:
- There are thousands of people out there (millions?) that are deconstructing the parts or the whole of their entire faith
- This process of revelation and healing needs to be shared and not just with a therapist
- We are all holy and we don't have to any longer be afraid; the wheels are actively coming off of the wagon that we've been riding; freedom is at hand
- We are experiencing in some ways the pain that our ancestors of color have felt; I don't fully understand this but somehow I know it's true; somehow, this theology goes back to oppression
- We are all holy
- Friends are vital
- Truth is like breathing
- Change and growth is necessary and best done in community
- It is better to move toward something beautiful while you're getting rid of something toxic; in fact, I feel this is imperative (that's my input)
All in all, there are a lot of quite amazing, humble, and brilliant people trying to care for others as we all move toward something better. Oh, I guess this one is a biggie:
- I feel hopeful that the church can and always has been able to hold new truths and new beauty to then organize and share with the world. This is what the church can do best and I saw that this dream is still happening, has been happening and will keep happening. As I throw off what is unnecessary and even evil, the church will remain.
Onward and upward.