Discretion

Jad Abumrad of NPR's Radiolab tweeted yesterday:

"Just learned the word 'discretion' derives from the Latin 'dis-excretio,' which means the ability to 'discern between food and shit.'"

As we are now in the post-#GC77 days (post Episcopal Church General Convention), we are in a period of discerning between food and shit.

What feeds us and will equip us for ministry and proclaiming the Good News to the world?

What pulls us down and forces us to wallow in the muck?

How do we discern between the two and choose the right path?

The Wall Street Journal published a scathing editorial by Jay Akazie on July 12, entitled What Ails the Episcopalians.  Not only does it contain factual inaccuracies, it borders on defamation.  (I question the Wall Street Journal's editorial standards and why they saw it fit to run such an article.  Had something similar been written about the Union for Reform Judaism, the Anti-Defamation League would have been all over it).  It was quickly picked up by David Virtue of VirtueOnline, whose raison d'etre seems not to be to proclaim the Gospel in the name of "Orthodox Anglicanism," but instead to demonize, discredit, and defame The Episcopal Church.  When I tweeted that, "I take great issue with those who identify themselves by naming and demonizing the 'other,'" one of Virtue's minions responded: "Naming sin is part of the Gospel."

And on it goes.  I wonder if "naming sin" is what God asks us to do.  Somehow, I recall Matthew 7:5: "You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

I realize this morning, however, after going to bed angry and hurt by all the trolls stomping about the Twittersphere and Blogosphere that I have not been using my best discretion.  Somehow, I thought that all this shit was food.  But it's not.  It's shit.

What is food?

A Tale of Two Church Legislatures is food.   Written by Methodist Taylor Burton-Edwards, who is married to The Rev. Dr. Grace Burton-Edwards, an Episcopal priest, this opinion piece gives a very different view of The General Convention.  Having experienced both the Methodist General Conference and the Episcopal General Convention, Mr. Burton-Edwards identifies the similarities and differences between the two denominations and the two legislative bodies.  

He writes,  

"I've written... that I came away from [Methodist] General Conference hopeful, and that I witnessed the Holy Spirit do many amazing things there. I stand by all of that. I am hopeful for us. The Spirit did many amazing things there. And... this all happened in the midst of what many of would describe as the most negative, contentious, even at times hateful General Conference any of us can remember. Often some of us watching the events there unfold were asking ourselves, 'Who are they going to go after next?'

By contrast, watching the TweetStream, occasionally the LiveStream, and, over the weekend, being present with folks and friends and family there-- my younger son was also on the floor as part of the Official Youth Presence-- the feeling of the General Convention was nothing like that of General Conference. The overall mood seemed generally serene, content, respectful, often fun, and actually hopeful through and through. There were no undercurrents of 'if we don't change everything right now, and in this particular way, we're doomed.' There were certainly disagreements about many things. But everyone was treated with dignity and respect, by everyone else.

And everywhere-- not just in committee or plenary sessions. One of the hotel staff told one of the delegates-- 'You are the first group of Christians I haven't had to get mad at. Come back, anytime!'"

And he continues.  I started to feel some hope welling up inside as I read his piece.

Wrong on Every Count is food.  Written by The Rt. Rev. Kirk Smith, Bishop of Arizona, this piece refutes false and defamatory claims made in the Wall Street Journal article.   One of the best points of his piece: 

"We Episcopalians can be hopeful about a church that has the self-awareness to take on its own restructuring, take prophetic positions on the world's urgent problems, include all people in its sacramental life, and proclaim to the Good News of Jesus in many new and creative ways.  And we do it all in a uniquely democratic manner, which is sometimes messy, but always Spirit-filled."

Mission and Redemption is food. Written by The Rt. Rev. Stacy Sauls, former bishop diocesan of Lexington and current Chief Operating Officer of The Episcopal Church, Mission and Redemption tells the hope-filled story of redeeming a building formerly inhabited by slave owners and transforming it into a mission center.  "Mission House," the office of the Diocese of Lexington, is now used for outreach, evangelism, and provides free meeting space to community groups working for justice and peace.  Having worked on staff at Mission House, I can say that we are merely human and make a whole host of mistakes and a hell of a lot of sin.  But we do our best - working prayerfully, intentionally, and always asking for God's guidance and blessing on our work.  

  

There's a lot more food out there.  And there's certainly a lot more shit.  So, we have to pray that God equips us with skill to discern between the two.  Dis-excretio.

The Letter of James is food.

James 1:19-27  

Hearing and Doing the Word

You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.

But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.

If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Amen, James.  Amen.

The Prayers for Guidance and Quiet Confidence that reside near the end of the Book of Common Prayer are food.   

Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with your gracious favor, and further us with your continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy Name, and finally, by your mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

O God of peace, who has taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen. 

Thanks be to God, I'm done with this shit.