Discerning Our Roles
Rev. Breanna Illéné, Director of Ecumenical Innovation and Justice Initiatives
This past weekend, my Facebook feed was filled with photos of friends across the country protesting. I laughed at protest signs and cheered on those who made it out. And I felt a little guilty. I’ve watched what is happening in our country and grieved the harm I see. The big ball of yuck we talk about seems to have gotten way yuckier. Like many, I feel compelled to respond. We talk a lot about Jesus and Justice in Public and being a prophetic voice for justice at the Council, and I wanted to join my community in publicly speaking out against harm. But as the parent of 3 young children, including a seven-week-old, life circumstances made it hard to be out on the street marching last weekend.
While I could have probably figured out ways to make it work, I found myself wondering if I was called to something different in this time period. I have found myself in this place of risk assessment and discernment on a frequent basis in recent times. Safety and time constraints, and the fact that I have small children depending on me, mean I can’t show up and take the same risks the way I could as a younger pastor or the way some of my empty-nester friends can. I have realized that I am called to have grace and trust. To trust that God has called me to a different stage of life and different work, and that not everyone can show up everywhere, and that is ok.
The Illéné family on their hike featuring the newest WCC adjunct staff member - Novinyé Theodora
My job is to discern and show up where I can. Because there is still important work to do in loving my neighbors. Instead of going to the protest, our family took a hike and ended up running into some folks we had seen around the neighborhood. We introduced ourselves and talked about the redevelopment work our church is doing in the neighborhood. Perhaps God had called us last Saturday to dwell with our neighbors and join what God is doing in our neighborhood (those involved in Awaken Dane will recognize this language). When I am frustrated that I can’t fix what is happening in our federal government, I find some peace knowing I can show up in my neighborhood and join what God is doing there.
On our way home, we drove through downtown and saw the people who were still hanging around after the protest. We pointed out signs, and then I had a conversation with my 5-year-old about kings. We talked about the fact that America has no king, but that as Christians, we believe Jesus was king. Now, there are deep theological implications to this conversation (some that are being coopted by Christian Nationalists in our country, which I continue to reflect on), but it felt important to plant some seeds with my kids and to open up conversations about power, Empire, and God’s role.
So many people are asking what they can do in this time. We want easy answers, but the reality is that there aren’t any. It’s not as simple as getting 3.5% of the population out holding a sign on a Saturday morning (I wish that it was). We need the public calls of dissent and justice. And we also need to work the other days of the week as well. Showing up for our neighbors, feeding the hungry, keeping people safe, and sharing stories of love and grace. We need to discern where God is calling us to do our work. And we need all of it.
