Religion, Sex, and Politics

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It's raining this Sunday afternoon. So I reach for an umbrella as I head over to the office, and am reminded once more...

Dee and I have bought a number of umbrellas over the years: huge umbrellas that could shelter a family of five, regular "couple size" umbrellas, and the handy little umbrellas that fold up into convenient sizes that could be coupled with a briefcase or even slipped into a purse. We've purchased conservative black umbrellas, colorful red and white ones, and some in casual-but-not-flashy greens and blues. But, with the exception of one small umbrella, I don't think we have any of those umbrellas anymore.

Oh, it's not that we are understocked. No, my friends, we have an abundant supply of umbrellas. Our umbrella stand is full, and we have extras in each vehicle. In the trunk of my car alone there are three umbrellas. You see, we are members of that amazing club called "The Church Umbrella Exchange." We have gone to church with umbrellas and, as the weather has cleared, we've come home with none. And we've gone on sunny days only to find, when it was time to leave, that it was pouring. And in those times, we have found an ample supply of other "orphaned" umbrellas laying around the church waiting to be adopted. And we were more than happy to give them a home - if only as a temporary foster family.

So we have a fascinating collection of umbrellas. Some are emblazoned with logos of companies with which we have no connection. I couldn't even tell you what the company does. Some look brand new, right off the shelf from Target or WalMart. And we have umbrellas for which I feel some sympathy, since they have a missing end fastener allowing the fabric to ride up, or a broken or bent rib which throws off the symmetry and dignity of the poor little umbrella. Using these misshapen umbrellas is no source of embarrassment for me. "Any port in a storm," after all. And when it's raining vigorously, there seem to be few people who are inclined to lean their own umbrellas back in order to survey the field with a judgmental eye.

I know we are a long way from the days of communal living and common-pot finances that we see in the early church in Acts 2:44-45, and for understandable reasons. But I like to think that we still have a small vestige of that spirit alive and well in the Church Umbrella Exchange."