In a sermon a few weeks ago, I shared an experience of finding my voice when someone called to oppose the “Black Lives Matter” sign we had in the church yard, placed in memory of the 9 people killed in Charleston, SC. I tried to listen and find common ground with one whose beliefs about Jesus differed significantly from mine. It felt good  to find words that showed my conviction without escalating or ending the conversation. I used the framework of the Phoenix Affirmations which are the focus of our summer worship. https://phoenixaffirmations.wordpress.com/

Yesterday, I saw several trucks driving down Main St. in Rockland flying huge Confederate flags. I saw another truck with a huge American flag flying. Is there a flag war going on? Or is it simply only a few days after the 4th of July? A chill went through me as I pondered the meaning of Confederate flags in Maine.

I pray, “Holy God, help me to find ways to engage those who are carrying the flags so that I may begin to understand. Help me to speak up in the name of the one who reached out to the outcast and calls us to acts of compassion and mercy. Help us to love one another. Amen.”