My First Memory: A Hand Me Down Tale
Posted on February 24, 2021 2 Comments
I remember the feel of the microphone in my hand. The slick cool feel of the handle. The long fat black cord wrapped through the fingers of my left hand as I bring the mic to my face. I tentatively raise the mic against my lips and begin in a whisper, “This little light of mine.” I raise my eyes slightly to look at the crowd gathered. They are all staring directly at me, wide-eyed, and waiting. I venture on, “I’m going to let it shine.” I sneak a glance to my left and see my Dad smiling proudly from his oversized chair on the platform.
I can feel it. The power of the moment. The sheer ability to hold an audience hostage with a sleek microphone and a few words. The butterflies are still present but are flying from my throat as I continue to sing. “This little light of mine.” I raise my face to look straight on at the crowd; searching their faces for, what? Instinctively, I know I need to keep them with me, hanging on my every phrase. I raise my voice a bit, shocked at how steady and strong it sounds. I spot my Mom, sitting on the edge of her seat with my big sister by her side. She isn’t smiling. She looks nervous, scared, in fact. Why is she so scared, I wonder.
I begin to sway a bit from side to side as I slowly gain confidence – like The Little Train that Could, I’m steadily making my way up the hill of terror. I raise my hand over the mic and belt out, “Hide it under a bushel? NO!” and throw my arm out to the side. The little old lady in the front row begins to chuckle. “I’m gonna let it shine,” I boldly pronounce. I repeat the same gesture as I repeat the phrase. This time I see my Mom crack a smile, look around and shake her head. She seems to be enjoying my performance. I’m really feeling myself now.
I scan the room, looking for signs of disinterest. Have I lost anyone? What about the old bald man holding bulletins by the back door? Or that little kid who’s peeking over the top of the wooden pew? Nope. Good, they are still with me. Still hanging on every phrase and gesture. I realize I’m no longer nervously turning the black mic cord in my fingers. I’ve dropped it and am keeping rhythm tapping my hand on the side of my thigh. I feel the scratchiness of the lace of my dress hem. I glance out at my sister wearing her matching dress Mom made us by hand. She looks bored. I take it up a notch trying to get her attention, trying to please her with my performance. “Don’t let Satan blow it out” and I blow directly into the mic – that got her.
I’m nearing the end of the song. I don’t want this moment to end. I don’t want to let it go – the looks of approval, of love, of laughter, and delight. I want to hold this moment, these people captive forever – with me. It’s not the singing I love. It’s not the music that has me enamored at this moment, it’s not even the words. No. It’s the power. The thrill of having a group of people listen to me. It’s the sheer excitement of being seen. Standing alone and commanding the room. I don’t want it to end. I don’t want to let this moment go.
I can feel my father coming near me, slowly walking as people clap. I stand stock-still with the mic to my side. I feel the pleasure and pain of the end. It’s time to return to my seat. To join my mother and sister and quietly listen to my father’s sermon with the rest of the congregation. I feel the weight of my father’s hand on my shoulder as I look up at him with my big blue eyes. As he confidently stands next to me he reminds me of a soldier, looking out over the field of battle with an intense and determined gaze. And at that moment, I understand. I understand he too knows the power of standing alone on a stage with just a microphone and words. How with the turn of a phrase, a small gesture, and a bit of charisma, you can hold a crowd in the palm of your hand. He too understands that with the right mix of melody and music, with the subtle yet profound change in tone, tenor, and tempo you can have them eating up whatever it is you are laying down.
It’s funny this is my first memory. My very first recollection of my life – standing next to the pulpit in a tiny old church in Taylorsville, KY singing “This Little Light of Mine.” I can still smell the mixture of moisture in the air and Old English on the wooden pews. The green carpet with the center aisle worn thin from years of people making their way to the altar. The white walls with wood trim led to the cathedral ceiling. It’s all so very vivid – as if I could reach out and touch it with my hand. Such a small space even from my eyes as a small child.
Some say it’s in my genes. I come from a long line of pastors, preachers, and proclaimers. My family tree is covered with the lives of people who could hold a congregation captive with “The Word.” My mom says that it was at this moment she knew I would follow in their footsteps. I’m not sure if that’s true or not. I think she just likes to think it’s true – that at the tender age of three she could envision the woman I would someday become. I believe she wanted and still wants it to be true – for her daughter to be a prolific preacher and pastor. And I suppose I was…for a time.
This is my first memory and the first of what I call my hand-me-downs. My father’s hand on my shoulder handing down the family business. Handing down the knowledge of the power of a microphone and words. Handing down his charisma, craft, and his Church. He handed me a great deal that day, surely more than my little three-year-old mind could imagine. I’m still trying to unpack it all – the suitcase of goods that have been handed down to me over the last 50 years. The items for wear that have been given to me from my family, my religion, my culture, my peers. Hand me downs. We all have them. We are all handed down ideals and identities, biases and beliefs, constraints, and communities that shape and form who we are.
Stay tuned for more of my hand-me-down tale. My 50-year journey of deciding what fits, what feels comfortable, and what needs to be tossed.
Anchoring Forward
Posted on February 19, 2021 Leave a Comment
Being a land-locked Kentucky girl, I don’t do a lot of sailing, so when I heard the term “kedge anchor” yesterday, I was lost. Turns out a kedge anchor is a light anchor that has a few different uses, one being to change the direction of a boat. Apparently, when a sailboat doesn’t have wind, a kedge anchor can be thrown in the direction it needs to go. The crew pulls on the line to slowly move the boat along until it gets wind.
I wonder if the Church needs a kedge anchor?
It seems many Churches are content to sit listlessly in the water as society and culture sail past creating, adapting, and embracing new media. Utilizing technology to create engaging ways to reach those who are disillusioned or distrustful of the institution called Church has been the way of some evangelicals. While mainline protestants have largely dismissed and looked with disdain upon those who would dare to shift or adjust their tightly held traditions. “We’ve always done it this way.” is the mantra the undercuts the creativity and moving of the Spirit.
I have lots of issues with evangelicalism and believe that particular brand of faith does more harm than good, but I do long for mainline protestants to embrace some of their willingness to adapt and embrace new media. As the way of the world incorporates digital media more and more, it becomes not only a part of our lives but a part of who we are and how we move in the world. Social media, the internet, and live stream video are intricately intertwined with work, school, and entertainment – all while the Church sits anchored to ways of the past.
Fifty years ago the Church was the center of the community. Now, community happens digitally. Social networks create spaces for communities to take root and flourish. Fifty years ago, the workday was 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. Today, businesses are open 24/7 requiring folks to work shifts that may no longer coincide with Sundays off and evenings free for Bible study. Do these folks simply miss out on worship, growth, relationships, and connection to a body of Christ because society has changed?
And what about the folks who have been harmed by the Church? Who love God, desperately want to follow Jesus, but are terrified of walking into a church building? What role does the Church have in reaching out to these folks and showing them love, acceptance, and welcome? I hear churches say, “We are open, affirming, all are welcome.” Sure you are…if we come to you…in person.
The age of our society is getting older – many are ill or disabled – making coming to church in person difficult if not impossible. These pillars of the Church are simply cast aside with home visits often being the only connection to the family of faith that is so important to them. Participating in worship or events is nothing more than reading a monthly newsletter or weekly email if they are lucky. Is this the only path forward for our membership – come to us?
I think the Church needs a kedge anchor?
I can visualize the sun beating down on sweat-soaked glistening skin, the taste of salt in the air, blisters forming on tired sore hands, and the sound of soft grunts as the line is pulled and the boat slowly moves in the right direction. This is a slow, difficult, painful process; after all, changing the course of a listless boat in the water isn’t easy.
Ashes to Ashes
Posted on February 17, 2021 Leave a Comment
In the midst of all that has been lost,
I journey to the wilderness for 40 days
reflecting, mourning, and waiting;
sitting in the ashes of what was
longing only for what will be.
I don’t want the wilderness,
not again.
Not while the smoke is rising from the ashes of
lies told, lives lost, and a nation divided.
And yet,
the wilderness calls,
Make me your home
your place of solitude
of rest.
Find yourself in the ashes of
grief, regret, and repentance.
Rise with me,
out of the ashes
in sure and certain hope of
grace, mercy, and peace.
Distilling the Divine
Posted on October 19, 2020 Leave a Comment
Being a born and bred Kentucky girl, I know a little something about bourbon. I’ve visited a few distilleries in my time and learned about the process of producing as well as the proper tasting of this caramel-colored nectar of the Bluegrass. When something is distilled, it’s boiled down to its essence. All of the impurities and imperfections of the mash are slowly heated to a slow roll as the character, structure, and nature of the whiskey begins to take shape.
Put into new charred oak barrels, the aging process begins as the liquid becomes infused with the smokey taste of the singed wood. Depending on the type of bourbon, the wait could be as little as a few months or as long as several years. Bottled-in-bond must be aged at least four years, straight bourbon aged at least two years, for others there is no time limit on how long, or how little, time it must be aged. Like life, it’s in the aging process that the fullness and depth of the bourbon builds. Just as with someone who has experienced all that life has to offer, there is a complexity, intricacy, and depth to a mature bourbon.
I love bourbon. I especially love drinking bourbon with friends and family discussing ideas and beliefs. We all seem much more philosophical and tend to think ourselves more enlightened with a glass of bourbon in hand. The past few months, my wife and I have been meeting up with my cousin and her husband each Monday evening for dinner and drinks. The dinner course may change, but the drink remains the same – at least for Jeff and me – bourbon. Over the course of a few hours, we debate theology, politics, and dive deep into the struggles of our daily lives.
How to support children transitioning to adulthood, what to do about kids with learning challenges, which cancer treatment should be chosen, and what to do when you and your spouse are struggling to connect are all distilled down as the character and nature of ourselves and God are discussed and examined.
Whether it’s alcohol, ideas, or beliefs, I’ve learned the distilled part is decisive. Over the course of time, these gatherings over dinner and drinks have served to refine our faith and boil down to the crux of daily matters. No longer do we get hung up on our imperfections. We don’t marinate on what might be seen as impurities, character flaws, or what others may refer to as “sin.” Instead, we see one another at our very essence, beloved children of God, made in the image of God, trying to do the work of God, as best we know how. And we get to have some tasty bourbon in the process.
DeEtte Decker 