31.10.2019 Views

CRUX 2019

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

from the GUEST EDITOR<br />

Karin Hamilton<br />

Why does our culture/society toss groups of people "into the<br />

margins" and what enables some of us to see and honor God<br />

in them? How can we see people whom our society sees as<br />

“broken”— including ourselves and our own family members<br />

and friends who may have mental illnesses, or are homeless or<br />

in prison, or who are substance abusers and addicts — through<br />

the eyes of God, as beloved, respected with dignity, the equal<br />

of all? Especially when the behaviors often associated with<br />

these challenges breaks hearts, hurts, goes against good<br />

advice, or repeats patterns that continually fail. Behaviors that<br />

get people pushed away into the margins. How can we orient<br />

ourselves to forgive seventy times seven, as the Scriptures<br />

say; to love those in the margins as if our life depends on it?<br />

If we love you, God, we will take care of ourselves and each<br />

other, even when it hurts. “Peter, do you love me? Feed my<br />

sheep,” said Jesus. We are all one in Christ. There is no real<br />

margin, because there is no edge to God’s embrace. How then<br />

can we love as God loves?<br />

In our first feature you can read about two people in Vermont,<br />

friends to many in ECCT, who are living a life devoted to<br />

contemplative practice. They have a mission “to support all<br />

people to know and enter into divine life.” And while many<br />

of us think of the Kingdom of God as something far away, or<br />

even an idealized version of the real world right now, they lay<br />

claim to Luke 17:21 in which Jesus says that God’s kingdom<br />

is “already among you,” alternatively translated as, “already<br />

within you.”<br />

In the second feature, you’ll meet people who are working<br />

with the mentally ill, homeless, imprisoned, and addicted,<br />

grounded in God and making the Kingdom manifest; showing<br />

us a way.<br />

Elsewhere in this issue you’ll learn about others who are also<br />

making manifest the Kingdom, from long-time leaders to<br />

new ones. In addition you’ll be introduced to three teens who<br />

embrace an interfaith future of peace, and a follower of Jesus<br />

who set up summer camps for impoverished children on the<br />

island of Hispaniola. You’ll also hear from your bishops, ECCT<br />

staff, and others who serve God faithfully and do their best to<br />

support you on your own journey of faith.<br />

May the joy of the Lord be your strength. (Neh. 8:10)<br />

Karin Hamilton served as Canon for Mission Communications &<br />

Media for the Episcopal Church in Connecticut for 25 years before<br />

retiring in July <strong>2019</strong>.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!