I recently preached a sermon about truth telling, and I did this not only because it was the topic of that week’s lectionary text, but more so because speaking truth has been on my mind a lot lately. Partly because of all the dialogue surrounding the current presidential election, partly because of what’s happening around the Covid-19 pandemic, and partly because I think we’ve become far too comfortable with our trivialized interactions.

It has always bothered me that too often the authenticity and depth of our daily interactions stops at surface level. We all know the basic conversation starters, “How are you?” or “What’s new?” The breakdown I think comes in the stock, singular answers, “Good,” “Fine,” or “Nothing” that we offer in return to quickly move us beyond the current “distraction.” And then we follow it with the obligatory, “How about you?” which essentially brings us to the end of this tired cycle of meaninglessness. Now, I don’t think it’s realistic that we will always have time for these more meaningful connections, but I do think in general we’ve become far too content with not engaging one another in more significant ways.

Brothers and sisters, amidst all the challenges that surround us, I would like to invite all of us to consider pausing a few moments to dwell on our daily interactions and consider all the missed opportunities for connection, especially in these days when so many are struggling with disconnection. How might our relationships be different if we afforded ourselves the chance to be more available, more vulnerable, and more connected to each other? God created us to be in relationship with one another, and when we take advantage of these opportunities then we live our lives far more truthful to who we are and who we were created to be.

I believe that God offers every relationship as a gift to remind us of God’s great love for all God’s children. Maybe instead of digging our heels in the sand, hiding our vulnerabilities, or rushing past every opportunity to get to something “better” or something we “must get to,” maybe we could try to stay in these precious moments a little longer rather than letting them pass us by. And maybe we could view “how are you” as more of an invitation rather than a distraction – because these invitations are how God works to both draw us closer to one another and also to God. They are also invitations for truth-telling because they tell us the truth about who God is, how God loves, and how much God loves.

My friends I hope that you will take the time to listen to this life-giving truth – the truth that God is with us and for us every moment of this journey. And if we allow this to guide our daily lives, then I think we will come to recognize and better experience the abundant blessings God has promised to us.

Pastor Tony

(Reprinted from the November 2020 newsletter)