When I was asked to give this homily I asked for some guidance, I didn't get much - John told me, write about your spiritual journey, then I asked Jessie, who had given 2 homilies and she responded, write about your spiritual journey and St Thomas. It wasn't very helpful, at least to me, who likes having most things in life defined. With their 'advice' in mind I set about looking for inspiration, or at least a theme. Thankfully I write down phrases and fragments that resonate with me. I found a phrase which a very good friend told me. He said "it is the flaws we love".

My now husband Christian and I started coming to St Thomas' almost a year ago. In many ways, on the surface, we may not be the typical individuals or couple that is often drawn to this parish. Although he will be sharing his own story later this year, I think it is important to provide a few small details about him. Born and raised in Mexico City, Christian journeyed first to New York and later to DC in search of adventure and greater professional opportunities. Although raised culturally Catholic, in many ways he was more comfortable celebrating the beginning of the new week catching up on sleep, at the movies, or experimenting in the kitchen. I on the other hand, am the daughter of an Episcopal minister and a middle school teacher.

I have made no secret of where I think St. Thomas' Parish DuPont Circle should head.  The vision that Matt Jarvis has brought to that future is bold, beautiful and prophetic.  And I am inspired by what I see on the walls downstairs in the parlor.  The question for me, rather the challenge is can it be bolder?  Where is the balance between that, which is practical and what is truly inspirational and prophetic?  Do we pitch tents for prophets past?  Or do we become a local, national and even international center of a community of believers that want to proclaim God's abundant love to any and all of God's children and engage a broken world in the work of reconciliation and renewal?

Often, I have confused the concept of being a child of God with being Godly. I have sat in judgment of those to the right and left of me who were in pain, who were lost, who were self-hating. I have put myself up as better than them, more aware of the world and what lies beneath its surface. That somehow, I have some erudite knowledge of God that no one else does. The hilarious thing is that armed with that false knowledge, I look in the wrong places for Him. I look up into the sky expecting to see God, or look down at the ground beneath my feet because of some people's teachings about damnation and unworthiness.