170/365 Stewardship Report Leads Me To Thinking

"So we're up to over 500 families," Mike mentions after the meeting.

"That's great."

"And this weekend, we realized, is Pride Fest. And then there was this debate about bottled water," he sighs. "And I suggested big coolers of ice water with dixie cups, but this was mostly ignored."

I reflect on past Pride Fest weekends. The parade starts right there, practically on the steps of church. It tends to be a circus. A hot crowded circus. But this is what I love about our neighborhood: it is a hot crowded circus.

And I think about our church's (big C, actually, not our parish) attitude about homosexuality. And it makes me glad that we live here, that the parade starts right there, and that we were having a debate about ice water. Instead of posting threatening messages on our marquee like the Lutherans down the way ("Jesus died for the sin of pride") or being absolutely crazy and bringing in, say, a loud speaker and a big wooden cross to drag around and antagonize people with.

There are things to get all riled up about, and there are things not to.