Whether or not you consider yourself a religious person, let alone a Christian, you might like the Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson. If his name rings a bell, it’s because you’ve heard news stories about his election and consecration as a bishop in the Episcopal Church. He’s controversial because he’s not only an openly gay man, he’s in a long-term committed relationship. Some folks in the Episcopal Church have been, well, I think the right word is apoplectic! (And some have welcomed him warmly.)

I met Bishop Robinson earlier this year, and I wasn’t surprised to discover that he’s a lot like everyone’s favorite uncle: kind, funny, soft-spoken, and an all-around good and honorable human being. And he has some experience with anxiety: at his consecration, he and his partner had to wear bullet-resistant vests! And ever since that day, he’s been a political lightning rod for angry and intolerant people. So I sat up and listened when he offered his thoughts about the anxiety that surrounds us these days, mostly due to the economic slump. I figured he had some credibility on the topic.

Here’s his speech. If his Christian language isn’t your thing, I encourage you to read his words with an ear for the themes that transcend his particular religious identity: what determines our human worth, what really matters in life, how this crisis can be an opportunity, and how–whether or not you have religious inclinations–it helps to look beyond yourself, take a deep breath, and allow the universe to unfold.

Like This Article? Please Bookmark It!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 29th, 2009 at 11:32 am and is filed under Feeling Mad, Sad, or Afraid. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.