Esse Quam Videri

Esse quam videri.  These three words have plagued me since I was a fourth grader at St. Gabriel's Catholic School.  I know that my former officemate and dearest colleague, a brilliant classicist, whose life's goal is to make Latin the official language of the universe is probably jumping on her hands and clapping her feet.  Esse quam videri is the state motto of North Carolina.  Based on yesterday's primary election results, the Tarheel State has certainly had more shining moments of glory.  Esse quam videri means "to be, rather than to seem."  This comes from Cicero's essay "On Friendship."  Living in the Capital of our great state, I see the state flag and the state seal at every turn, with those same three words.

To be, rather than to seem.  What does that mean?  I struggled with that as a child when Sister Herman Joseph told the class what it meant.  In my eighth grade North Carolina History class, here were those same words again.  In my personal estimation, these words simply mean that in every moment we are to be the best human being and child of the universe that we can be.  I am reminded of a conversation that I had with my bishop, the Right Reverend Michael Curry when he interviewed me as a diaconal aspirant for the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina.  In reference to everyday living Bishop Curry said.  "You can't be what you can't see."  Those seven words have stuck with me since October.

Regardless of my personal feelings about Amendment 1 being passed by a majority group in my native state.  Where are the people that will be the role models that our society so desperately needs?  Where are the politicians who will be willing to march to the beat of a different drummer and represent all the people of their constituencies, and not those that have over these least of these?  Where are the bishops, priests, deacons and licentiates that will spread the holy gospel of love and peace and not the venom of division and social disgraces?  Where are the teachers that will reach out and pull all our students up, especially the little brown boys and girls that I see looking back at me in the mirror, with only two percent of our nation's teachers are black men?  Where are those that will be foolish or daring enough to attempt to take this broken and upside down world and place it right side up again?  Where are you in this scenario?  How can you be what you can't see?  How can our children be rather than to seem, unless we reposition ourselves and really think on these three words "Esse quam videri."

Faithfully,
Karsten

The Story is NOT over....

Happy Eastertide and Spring!  One of the beautiful things about being an episcopalian, is that certain holidays are not restricted to just one day.  For example, we have the season of Christmas.  Now we are in the season of Easter, which runs for fifty days.  Then we enter the seemingly never ending season of Pentecost, or Ordinary Times.

Have you ever been watching a television show and it gets to the end of the episode, and you see the words "To be continued" flash across the screen?  Sure you have.  The soap operas even do this on Fridays with cliff hanging episodes to lure viewers to tune in on Monday to see what happens next.  I cannot believe that Lent has come and gone.  One of the devotionals that I read during Lent posed this question on Ash Wednesday.  "How will you be different after Easter?"  That really stayed with me throughout my lenten observance and contemplations.

During Lent, The Church of the Good Shepherd had powerful Wednesday night supper meetings, in which we fellow-shipped with food and were privileged to hear from four very powerful speakers on the topic of urban ministry in our community, and how we take the love and message of Christ beyond the doors of our church. I've walked away from Lent, with a greater sense of questioning and awareness of urban ministry.  How do we gather what society would call "the least of these" and let them know that God loves you, no exceptions?  How do we truly go forth into the world to love and serve God?

Let's fast forward.  In the gospel song "No greater love," near the end of the song, there is a line that goes like this.  "That's not how the story ends, three days later, He rose again.  That's love!"  Beloved, as we have journeyed from Lent into Easter, it is important that we remember that the story is not over.  Through Jesus' passion, crucifixion and resurrection, we are reminded that the story is not over.  We are currently in a "to be continued" place in the journey of our lives.  Oh what a price Jesus paid for us so that we could get to this very hour.  Your life, regardless of the failures, joys, successes and valley moments is not over.  The mere fact that you are here is a gentle reminder that you have been awakened into God's transforming power, for yet another day.

Jesus got up so that we could get up and realize that as we love God with all our heart, mind and soul, as well as our neighbors as ourselves, we are destined for greatness.  Will it be easy?  No.  The older saints used to say "I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow."  You may think that your situation is hopeless.  Your back may be against the wall.  Friends and family members may have turned their backs on you.  You are on the brink of a cliff hanger and I see "To be continued" in this chapter of your life.  Love always wins.

Alleluia!  Christ is risen.
Karsten