and what did we accomplish?

after all the words last 

week about chicken 

and the right to 

buy chicken 

and the right for

a certain chicken owner 

to speak and spend his money

after all the gathering...

     some of us on the edge of the front lawn 

     offering our story

           others of us standing in line 

           to eat at the table of privilege

after all the words and opinions

i'm left wondering...

where did it get us?

what did we accomplish?

it seems we keep doing the same thing

over and over again 

all the while

expecting different results

but only landing ourselves in the same predicament. 

so i wonder...

where did we get with all our words last week?

what did we accomplish? 

i am left with particular questions...

how many times is it required 

to offer the warning 

the threat 

that certain ones are destined to hell?

how many times must it be said

"you are an abomination?"

ok

so the chicken owner didn't say

abomination...

he said 

the coming of GOD'S wrath.

how many times does the 

threat of GOD'S wrath 

have to be hurled?

i for one have heard the warnings

and threats.

i've heard

and i've grown tired 

of trying to explain my life to 

those who warn and threaten. 

but 

like them 

i keep saying the same things

over and over again.

i do not read the BIBLE

the same way you do.

i understand GOD'S

grace differently than you.

GOD has affirmed me

and confirmed me 

despite your warnings and threats.

we say the same things

over and over 

and where does it get us?

have we already spoken 

too many words?

is it too late

for peace 

to be a reality?

does partisan 

politics and theology 

take precedents over 

GOD'S ability 

to heal?

the chicken mess of last week 

is only the latest version 

of our dysfunction

as a culture and a church.

in some ways 

it is playing out as we speak...
somewhere in a big or small way
the dysfunction continues.

sadly we don't have to be on opposite ends of the 

political or theological spectrum 

to continue this saga.

this monday 

i am pondering...

how many times does one have to be right?

how many times does one have to win an argument?

how many times does one have to wield power over another person?

how many times and 

how many words

and how many arguments and debates

does it take 

to feel like 

we have purpose and meaning in life? 

how many more arguments,

disputes, debates, 

motions, votes, 

actions and re-actions 

can our 

culture...

can the church withstand?

i don't have the answers this monday

i only have the questions

and the desire

to find another 

way of 

speaking 

and living with each another.