Rev. Eric Fokerth

It would be very easy to begin this year freaked out by the news of the world.

Whether it’s the brinksmanship of the conflict between Iran and our country, the fires in Australia, or the news of a potential UMC split, there are an awful lot of screaming headlines out there for just the first few days of the year. It would be very easy to start this year with our “hair on fire,” in full-scale freakout mode.

However, one of the things my Father taught me a long time ago is that when we are in freakout mode, we often can’t think clear, and therefore we don’t act wisely.

Dad wasn’t a Buddhist, nor am I, but I admire their old expression that is meant to calm us in the midst of crisis. In the midst of crisis, Buddhists tell us to:

“Don’t just do something, stand there!”

At heart, this is called being a “non-anxious presence.” And, IMHO, it’s one of the things that anyone called to leadership should learn.

Being non-anxious doesn’t mean we don’t understand the serious threats before us. We do.

We get that climate change is bad.
We get that, two days ago, we perhaps stood at the brink of war.
We get that the UMC splitting will be a loss for all of us.

But we also understand that when our hearts our pounding, our adrenaline rushing, our blood-flow constricting…we tend to make poor decisions.

I’ve been reminded of this via one of my few favorite podcasts, called “Cautionary Tales.” Created by Tim Harford of the Financial Times, the podcast unpacks terrible tales of “human error, tragic catastrophes…and hilarious fiascos.”

And what does he learn from re-examining the terrible mistakes of history?

That time and time again, if only those involve could have stepped back, taken a breath, paused to reflect, tragedies might have been avoided.

In our Christian tradition, we hear the message to “Be still and know that I am God.”

That does not mean, “All is always well.”
That does not mean “Everything always works out perfectly.”
That does not mean that there are not politicians, pundits, preachers, and prognosticators who are TRYING to make us afraid.

All does mean that behind it all, those of us called to faith are also called to a trust in God. Work hard. Very hard. Push back against the challenging forces of the world. But trust that God is still God…and don’t freak out.

Sunday, we will “renew our baptisms” in worship. And we will remind ourselves of these two primary messages that are inside of our baptismal vow:

We are God’s good children, and God loves us and wants good for us. God loves us, and cares for us. And God loves the world too.

There is “evil, injustice and oppression” in the world, and our baptismal vows call us to “resist it” in “whatever forms they present themselves.”

Taken together, that is a tall order of course.

So, here’s my commitment to you in 2020…

I promise to acknowledge the fear, injustice, and change that we will feel both outside and inside our church walls. But I also promise to lead without anxiety. And I invite you all to year where you live much the same way.

Join us Sunday as we renew our baptisms and commit to the year that is to come.

Grace and Peace,

Eric