A Foretaste of Glory Divine

(St. Louis) I’m not going to even attempt to explain what happened today. You saw it, read about it.

What happened is what was going to happen. It was baked in the cake by the nature of the delegates present (yes, it matters who we elect to be delegates). The WCA had the numbers, was organized and cared only about one thing—winning, and they did everything (and I mean everything to achieve their aim) to do it. Unrelated (or is it?) I hope the Microsoft Corporation gave somebody bulk pricing for all the new Surface Tablets that some of our delegates unboxed and walked around with on the floor. 

And for now they were successful. 

The truth is the Traditional Plan was, is and will be declared unconstitutional, and the body voted for it anyway. 

But that’s what was. Through the pain and tears in St. Louis there is a family coming together. A family the color of the rainbow that will not be deterred. It’s a family that will love God and all that God loves. 

It’s a family that will love justice, do kindness and walk humbly with God. 

This family will love one another as it loves those who can’t find a way to be in fellowship with it. 

Wanna know what it’s gonna look like?  

The benediction of the Special Session was not what was spoken on the stage. It’s what was sung in the vestibule surrounded by St. Louis police for fear of rioting. 

And it was a riot. One of grace. This is the foretaste of glory Divine. I leave General Conference as I arrived. Yes, that’s Mark Miller leading the singing. 

Teach Me How to Pray

(St. Louis). The Dome, the place where “The Greatest Show on Turf” once played (led in no small part by the Tigers’ Isaac Bruce), is cavernous. It makes no sense for a gathering of our size to meet in a facility that holds almost 70K people. 

It’s hard to see everything’s that’s happening even with view screens. 

But there we were.  

The first day of gathered delegates and onlookers was a one of prayer and worship. Many languages were spoken highlighting the global nature of the Church.  I had the honor of being anointed by Bishop Bruce Ough, whose nonanxious presence during the most pressure filled moments in Portland a few years ago, modeled a style of leadership to which I aspire. 

We spent the afternoon talking about the rules we’d follow to conduct our business. 

In the corridors caucuses strategized what to do once we ”got down to business.”  Rumors swirled about who’s doing what and when. 

And still we prayed. We worshipped. We communed. We were anointed.

It’s a snapshot of who we are - the faithful who long for the Spirit’s leading to transform us into something hopeful, while others believe the Spirit is meant to lead us into a more rigid version of what is. 

And all the while there’s murmuring in the corridors. 

We start at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow. 

Veni Sancte Spiritus.