Labor of Love
During the last plenary session of the Progressive Asian American Christians (PAAC) conference this weekend we heard some incredible stories by the LGBTQIA+ community. I was asked to lead a time of prayer and offered the following words for our beautiful sister and friend, Rachel Held Evans, someone who advocated for women’s voices, people of color and women of color voices, and especially LGBTQ voices.
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Some of you may have heard the news that Rachel Held Evans past away last night. You may or may not know of her or heard of her, but that’s ok, all you need to know really is that she loved us, loved the Church through her witness, her stories, her words. Even if you haven’t met her or talked to her in person, you can know who she is through her books--that’s her. I can say without an ounce of hyperbole that Rachel was someone whose work changed the trajectory of American Christianity, but she was never above it all. She was totally grounded in her family and friendships--she was authentic and generous always with her time and help. She became such an inspiring and loyal advocate for the work of people on the margins-- and relentless in in this...courageous and fierce. And yet, she always, always erred on the side of compassion, on lifting up our humanity, on lifting up our belovedness.
I first met her through her blogs and books in 2010 and then in person for the first time in 2015, since then we’ve emailed and chatted on the phone periodically. Someone asked me if I knew her well, and I paused before saying yes, because what I really wanted to say was even though we were together in person only a few times, she was the kind of person who really saw you--I felt she knew me well, she knew my heart, and she loved me. And this was who she was with countless people. She encouraged me to write, but more than that she encouraged me to know, to trust, and to love myself.There's no way that some individual will ever come along and fill the hole and void left in her wake. But this is all the more impetus to continue her labor of love--all of us together--with the same joy, genuineness, humanity, and more.
From Psalm 46:1–5, 10–11
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake
in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city;
it shall not be moved;God will help it when the morning dawns.
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.”
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge (Psalm 84)
And then from Searching for Sunday, which saved me:
Let us pray: God in the silence, we offer our gratitude for the life and witness of our sister Rachel, and for all the reminders of your faithfulness...God of all consolation, Our refuge and strength in sorrow, by dying, our Lord Jesus Christ conquered death; by rising from the grave he restored us to life.Enable us to go forward in faith to meet him, that when our life on earth is ended, we may be united with all who love him in your heavenly kingdom, where every tear will be wiped away; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.(From The Book of Common Prayer)
Rachel, I didn't want to wake up this morning to a world that didn't have you. You changed my life, and I will be forever grateful.