No Bad Child

by Rev. Kathy Cramer

The last time I wrote to you, I was talking about Artificial Intelligence; this time I want to talk about Native Intelligence.

I was watching a YouTube documentary by Tommy McGee. He was talking with people inside what has been called the most violent Native American reservation. It was a sobering situation with many of the young men in gangs, rampant drug abuse, broken down neighborhoods and violence. Tommy was interviewing one of the Lakota Native American Elders who said: “There’s not a bad child, there’s just one who hasn’t been reached.”

What a wise and powerful statement! I wish it was the motto of our country. I am always impressed by how connected Native elders are with wisdom and with nature. In this case, they were able to see through all the devastation to the core of the issue: We need ways to reach those on the borders, those we call outcast, those who feel hopeless.

I am particularly sensitive to this issue having read many of the stories of people killed by ICE, those who were shot for essentially no reason and the many more in detention centers where their medical issues were overlooked or ignored.

This week one of the lectionary readings is the familiar story of Joseph—of the “many colored coat” fame. At least that is the story I heard in Sunday School. Yes, his brothers take his coat and throw him in the well, but it all works out in the end. It is a story of how God keeps working in our lives and it is also a sobering and brutal story. 

Steve Garnaas-Holmes, a pastor, musician and poet sends a poem out every day.  And this week he wrote one about the Jospeh story in it are these lines: (full poem below)

The one we would dismiss,
the one we would be done with,
is our sibling.

Yes, our hearts are breaking from the violence and hate and plain meanness we see all around us. And yes, we know we are called to find ways to reach those we might call “other.” It feels overwhelming, and so we pause and breathe and pray.  One thing we can do is to be kind to those we encounter each day. 

This week, I also noticed that the National United Church of Christ is supporting a movement called the United States of Kindness campaign. The concept is simple: To celebrate America’s 250th birthday, do 250 acts of kindness. There are ways to sign up and share online—or we can also just do it!  Let’s be inspired to do what we can to share kindness and compassion in our world.

There is much to grieve in our world, but remember, There’s not a bad child, there’s just one that has not been reached.

In gratitude for this community,
Rev. Kathy

Joseph

The saga of Joseph and his brothers
is not just about an ancient family.
They are us.

The one we would dismiss,
the one we would be done with,
is our sibling.

The enslavers are never the good guys.
The one sold, the one enslaved,
is the story's hero.

                   •

And within: where is my Joseph,
the excellence I'm afraid of,
the grace I seek to banish?

I may sell it away, but it will prevail,
first shame and then tame me,
and save me in the end.

by Steve Garnaas-Holmes