Dear Friends,
The Diocese of Ohio will hold its Annual Convention in Wooster on November 10 and 11. Trinity’s delegates will be Mary Beroske, Hugh Grefe, and Jolene Miller. I’ll be attending the convention with seat and voice, but no vote since I’m canonically a resident in Southern Ohio.
The upcoming convention sparked a memory. Seventeen years ago, I was driving home from Southern Ohio’s diocesan convention when my cell phone rang. My eldest, Elizabeth, was calling to share the news that things were getting serious with a fellow she’d been dating. Elizabeth had found it hard to meet people to date in New York City. So, she’d turned to a computer dating service and, after a few not-so-great coffees, lunches, and dinners, had met Randy. Randy and Elizabeth were married two years later. I co-officiated with Rabbi Ross since Randy is Jewish. Their fifteen-year marriage has produced Ellis and Jane, two of our four grandchildren.
This week, Elizabeth and I texted about the horrific and politically polarizing war between Hamas and Israel. The situation is tragic, and many players have motivations that have and will cost numerous innocent lives. The murders and kidnappings by the Hamas militants deserve the condemnation of the world and have understandably enraged the people of Israel. We Americans felt the same way when terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The danger when evil people attack is that in responding, we will become what we abhor. The Bishop of Michigan, Bonnie Perry, preached a sermon last Sunday with the title “Do Not Become What We Abhor.” It provides a history of the Gaza strip that provided helpful context for me. You can watch a video of her sermon here.
In the midst of all the consequences of Hamas’ attack and the IDF’s response – both macro and micro – I have found myself especially praying for the children. What must it have been like to have armed men break into your home’s safe room? What must it be like to leave everything in northern Gaza and flee with your family to the south, knowing that you are unlikely to be safe there either? I can’t imagine. Everything has changed and will continue to change in heartbreaking ways in the days and weeks ahead. So I pray for peace with justice.
My second-grade granddaughter, Jane, has a “culture day” this week – usually an innocuous activity. Kids bring symbols and wear clothing that identifies their backgrounds. Jane’s class is diverse, drawing from Brooklyn’s “melting pot” or “salad bowl.” Elizabeth had bought Jane a t-shirt with a unicorn (Jane’s favorite animal) holding a menorah and a star of David. Elizabeth wrote, “Having her wear that feels like we are making a political statement, in a way that didn’t before the attacks.”
This is the world we are living in – where what a child wears for culture day can be interpreted to be a political statement rather than simply saying, “My culture is Jewish, and I love unicorns.” It makes me sad.
I don’t know how, but I hope the reconciling love of Jesus has the power to bring healing and wholeness to Israel and Palestine – shalom – salaam – peace.
Blessings,
Stephen Applegate
The Reverend Dr. Stephen H. Applegate
Interim Rector