One little choice can change your world, who you are, what you stand for, and the path you take.
One little liberty of refusing to wear a mask - has a snowball affect.
I wonder how many really looked at the outcome of not wearing a mask. Not the daily view; but the one that led to the Capital building.
If you stand up for your liberties by breaking the rules, in order to keep standing, do you have to keep breaking the rules?
When does it stop?
I am in shock and awe of the First Apostolic Lutheran church members and how many have take this route.
How being lawless and supporting those who are, is now a good thing.
A patriot thing.
An American thing.
My head hurts trying to make sense of the senseless
I just can't figure out their choice making, or the things they rally for, or against.
Yet, mostly, I am affirmed.
My experience with some folks within the church(es) has been one of sheer confusion. And, maybe it was my naive or innocence in who I thought they were, compared to who they really are.
Just as it seems like a no-brainer to wear a mask and help reduce the spread of the virus and help business stay open, they go on the opposite end; assuring longer closures and more spreading.
They speak of their liberties - like they have full power of their lives, their bodies and minds. When in fact, the mask wearing was the least among all the liberties they had to lose.
It is to be standing naked and appalled being asked to take off your hat.
It is hard to see where their minds are and what causes them to act the way they act. Hard to understand the choices they make given the options available. Whether to align with the laws or go against them.
When I first discovered my sexual abuse, I discovered church members knew and did nothing. No thing.
The very thing you think they would be up in arms about, they sat silently and often worked to keep it quiet.
So, in our minds, we believe that "good" christians will act this way and be on the side of the law.
When in fact, the opposite is more true.
Some will dispute this; but we are seeing actions that are showing us who they are.
As Dr. Maya Angelou says, "People show you who they are; believe them the first time."
I did.
I am not so in shock of how they are acting; maybe more in shock of the public displays.
The boldness and arrogance in which they are going against the rules and laws.
What appears to be anithkical to their religion perhaps is actually the core of who they are.
What is the character of their religion, IF it is okay with rule breaking, or turning a blind eye to the crimes against children?
A friend suggested that they confuse "leader" with abuser.
That seems right. That they can't tell the difference from an abuser to a leader Or that their leaders are abusers. So, to them an abusive leader is a leader.
And, their choice making reflects their confusions.
Again, I am certain there will be many who will dispute this and tell me they know exactly what they are doing and what they are standing for. That they are being patriotic and stand up for the liberties of all.
There is a sleight of hands in all of this. A place where it switches from standing for liberties and breaking the laws.
A place where the knifes edge changes the side you are standing on.
The place where you slip from a law a biding citizens to a law breaker.
I have to wonder how many folks who break the law ever feel that they are in the wrong.
How many break laws every day, believing it is their right.
So for the many who feel I am in the wrong; perhaps you and I don't see eye to eye and for that I am grateful for.
I used to see the world with your mind.
This may seem very confusing and the ramblings of a mad woman, who is mixing my experience with the church members and how they are acting in a pandemic. I had to write the things that hurt my head.
What hurt my head, and even my heart are members of a church acting so unkindly.
I am thankful I am no longer a member.
I am grateful that I made the choice to mask up, to follow the guidelines and to be on the side of history where I don't have to break laws to keep standing up for my choice.
And each time the question arises, when we step out in public, we make the same choice OR we can choose again.
I also wonder where the other leaders of the church are, the ones who have to be sensing the demise of their reputation as church of morals and values. No one else is speaking up, but allowing the loud group to be their voice. Is it the voice they want to represent them?
How is that quote. "It isn't the actions of our enemies; but the silence of our friends."
It feels like many christian organizations or religions who are condoning the no masking, will all lose their morals and values with this pandemic. They will lose being the heart of our communities. They are instead the ones who are rallying against the agencies who are striving to keep us all safe.
At the end of the day, we all are going to be seen by how we act.
You may act as a group, but we all choose alone.
And, our choices become part of our history.
