Sunday Musings – April 11, 2021
We have erred
This morning I was thinking about the confessions of faith which is listed in the Book of common prayer TEC, 1970, PDU/62 and is recited in many Christian churches. One of the lines of the confession is: We have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep, we have followed too much the devices and desires of our hearts.
I was thinking of this prayers as I listened to an On Being podcast conversation between host Krista Tippett and Bryan Doerries, author, scholar and director of the public health project “Theater of War”. He produces plays such as some of the Greek tragedies to reach across time to stimulate public conversations about “present wounds and longings”. What qualified this as a public health project are the conversations which takes place with and among the audience following a performance. For example one member of the audience, a soldier after a performance in Germany of the play Ajax by Sophocles, posited that Sophocles wrote this play “to boost morale”. Mr. Doerries ask this man, “ What is morale boosting about watching a great warrior lose his best friend in battle and then....take his own... “. Before he can finish asking the question the man shouts out, “Because it is the truth.”
When Christians sit in church and say the confession, “We have sinned and stayed from thy ways like lost sheep. “Sunday after Sunday it can easily become just words. Even the reenactment of the crucifixion on Good Friday can become a very rote exercise. The tragedy of Atlas and other Greek tragedies and the sharing by the audience makes it difficult to stay emotionally disconnected. Following some performances individuals who may appear to have it all together share how they have been hurtful to others. Rather than repeating a rote prayer they share very specific example of how they have been hurtful. An atmosphere is created where it is safe to genuinely confront one’s “sins” - the ways one has hurt others.
Those working a 12 step program to help recover from active addiction in step 4 make a “searching and fearless moral inventory” and then go on to share it with others and to make amends “except when to do so would injure them or others.” Of course, one has to then make a committed effort to change one’s behavior.
Many wise people, including Jesus have declared that “the truth shall set you free”. The truth is that growth and change is not possible unless we name those deeds or actions which have been making it impossible to grow. Only when one names the problem can one change the behavior which is impairing individual and, thus, community growth.
When the man in the audience says the tragic play improves morale he is not suggesting that one punish the Atlas in all of us. He is suggesting that as each of us humbly and contritely admit our “sins” we can move towards healing and, thus, reconnect as a community. This is a very hopeful message. Of course, it improves morale. When it is not safe to humbly share the truth it is not possible for most of us to commit to change.
It is imperative that we create a community which makes it safe to tell the truth and begin the healing process. We lie because we do not feel safe enough to tell the truth. We lie because it has become a habit born of knowledge that it was not safe. The question we must all ask is: How can we duplicate the safety of the theater where these tragedies are being performed and truth is being shared.
Written April 11, 2021
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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