What’s your classic summer dinner?

I have a dear friend visiting from Mexico, so I’m serving up the classic Vanni family summer dinner tonight. Pete’s cheeseburgers on the grill, with the option of a roasted sahuaro green pepper from Marshall’s farm stand plopped on top. Fresh corn (although thanks to this year’s rain, that will probably come from way further south right now!). Sliced tomatoes and fresh basil, with a nice drizzle of olive oil. Yum. I’m getting hungry just visualizing it!

Many years ago, I was in a weekend long workshop with a wonderful spiritual teacher. Most of the people there had faced tremendous loss and hardship. After many folks had shared the burdens they were carrying, the teacher smiled at all of us and said, “Ah, life! It’s a train wreck, but it’s wonderful!”

People in my business (faith community leadership) often find themselves discussing trends in our denominations and faith traditions. But as we wring our hands about who’s not with us right now, we often forget that, in fact, the United States is by many measures “a robustly religious country and the most devout of all the rich Western democracies” according to studies by the Pew Research Center, one of the premier watchers of global religious life.

A Holy Ramadan for Us All

There’s no denying the amazing religious pluralism in this country. Driving in our southwest suburbs, we not only pass churches and synagogues but mosques and mandirs. In Spring, our neighbors are celebrating Easter (Christian) and Passover (Jewish), and they also celebrating Ridván (Bahai) and Holi (Hindu).

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of visiting the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, home of an important chapter in the life and ministry of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. As I entered the sanctuary, a few students milled about. Then they left, and I was alone in that sanctified and historic space as a recording of one of Dr. King giving one of his stirring, prophetic sermons played.

Jesus taught his followers to persist in their prayer by telling a story about a woman and a judge. Despite multiple rebuffs, the woman kept coming before an unjust magistrate asking him to render her a fair decision in a conflict with an adversary. The story tells us that for a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, “While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.'"

As we enter Summer, Minnesotans might spot our state bird (the loon), state fish (the walleye) or state flower (the pink lady slipper) Now, we can take notice of the newest addition in the State pantheon: the rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis), just appointed State bee by Governor Walz.