A Nation of Tribes

So I really love Rev. Dr. Renita Weems. She is pretty much who I want to be when I grow up. Smart, sassy, spiritual...and outspoken. I discovered her while poring over some books in the Black Studies section of the MLK Library. I was looking for literature on women in ministry and came across her book , Showing Mary (which I still need to read and purchase). I am not sure what I was going through at the time, but her words seems to speak directly to my heart. Not too long after, I decided to find out more about her on the net and ended up reading her blog, Something Within. This woman is soooooooooooooooo on point. If you ever get a chance, go to the blog, find some of her books...find out about Ms. Renita...She's no joke!


I was delighted today to listen to her preach today at Howard's Rankin Chapel. Her sermon came from Luke 22:24-33 and correlated with communion, but also a struggle I am currently dealing with. She spoke about how right after communion, Jesus's disciples began to have a dispute about who was the greatest among them. She talked about dispute in the context of where we are in the world - how there are so many factions, calling us "a nation of tribes". She said that we are more drawn to our idealogies than what actually matters and consequently are divided. We only gravitate towards those who look, think, and act like us.

In hearing her words, I started thinking about how a particular situation has unfolded in my life. I have a coworker who I am not fond of (euphemistically speaking). His very being grates my nerves. From the moment that I met him, I have found him rude and condescending. Whenever he speaks to me, it seems like he is baiting me for an argument rather than making an attempt at conversation, and even then the topics are racialized (i.e. "You're black, what do you think about this?"). Rather than correcting him or conceding to dialogue with him, I ignore him. Even though he sits right next to me, I tune him out. For so long, I have thought that was the appropriate solution. In my heart, I know that its not. In my heart I know that I should be kinder, that I should show grace, that I should hear him or at least be honest and tell him when he's been offensive. Those things would probably be more mature than telling anyone who will listen about how much I hate his guts. But alas, its been easier to just dismiss him as being "different" and "wrong".

At a point in her sermon, Dr. Weems said that there is one thing to have a dispute, but its literally an entirely separate issue when there is a "spirit of disagreement" which she says is demonic. I had never thought about it that way, but it makes perfect sense. Some days, even before he has an opportunity to open his mouth, I already have on my screwface just waiting for him to piss me off. My whole attitude and mood shift when he is around. My body tenses up. Its like I am preparing to do battle even though I am not even clear what the war is about.

As these gleanings came to mind, so did a very clear picture of this person that I have made my adversary (I jokingly call him my "arch nemesis"). Seeing him and thinking of all the negative things I have said and how horribly I have acted towards him made me really sad and convicted. Suddenly, I saw this person who I perceived as an enemy as my brother - someone who deserves a lot more compassion than I have ever shown him. I was surprised to feel tears streaming down my cheeks as I saw him. Before today, I was always able to justify my anger towards him. As I am writing this, I just want to release all the nasty feelings and start with a clean slate.

I committed this situation to prayer awhile ago, but not from this perspective. I am curious as to what I will see/how I will feel tomorrow morning when I get to work. I will report back.

Dr. Weems also spoke briefly about homosexuality. Apparently someone read her blog and took issue with what they assumed was her saying that homosexuality is not a sin. According to her, its not for her to judge anyone, that's God's job, as she does not have a heaven or hell to put anyone in.

Amen and Amen.


It brought me back to the "Trials of Ted Haggard" documentary that I finally got a chance to watch last night. I honestly did not pay much attention to this scandal when it was fresh and new. I think at most, I may have said a quick prayer for his wife and family and just wrote him off as another fallen religious leader. Maybe I am desensitized so much that these kinds of situations never really shock me anymore. Leaders are human first and humans make mistakes. Oversimplification, perhaps...but, that's how I feel.

Nevertheless, watching and listening to the story and how it unfolded has me incredibly sympathetic towards this man. I mean, I absolutely cannot imagine walking a centimeter in his shoes. And this whole situation brought him a deeper understanding of the words he had been preaching for so many years and how that even having lost everything, he is better off now than he was. I'm just like...wow.

When I was searching for a pic of him to upload, I glimpsed an article about him admitting to a second affair. I just sighed. I probably will not read it. I am less into the tawdry details than wondering how he persevered. Whenever I hear anything like this, my general question is "how do you survive this?"

Anyhoo, being in church felt pretty good. The music was better than I expected and it was not too crowded. I heard that when Jeremiah Wright was there the Sunday before inauguration that Howard pretty much had to open every possible viewing space to accomodate the crowds that came to see him. I may return to chapel next week, but I hope to do some research on local churches soon. I might just check out the service at All Souls Unitarian Church. We'll see.

I have nothing to say regarding the Superbowl, beyond the fact that I opted out of a Superbowl party to update the blog and get some rest. Signing off to do the latter.

Love and light,


Nia