Our Colaw lecturer Kaitlin B. Curtice talked about creating “safe spaces”- “liminal spaces”-in her lecture and sermon last week. But what are they and how can we discern if we have made room for safe spaces in our lives? According to the Oxford Dictionary a safe space is “a place or environment in which a person or category of people can feel confident that they will not be exposed to discrimination, criticism, harassment or any other emotional or physical harm.” A liminal space is a place of transition, a threshold between two points, signaling the end of one time or space, and the beginning of another”. These spaces exist in the real world as physical locations, but are also present in our cognition and psychological experience, often related to major life changes and periods of uncertainty.”, so says Science ABC.
Periods of uncertainty can enter into our discourse and conversations with those we know and love. Cultural feels like it is at an all-time level of polarization, but what if polarization is just signaling the end of one era and the beginning of another? I believe in the need for safe space. We can create that in our discourse and we should think about it every time. But we live in a world of competition and the “got-cha cancel cultural” is very strong. So how does one have these conversations?
First we can turn to the scriptures. Amos is a prophetic book set in the context of the northern Kingdom under the reign of King Jeroboam II. His 40-years on the throne led to economic and military power for the Northern Kingdom. This boom in economic wealth and changing priorities had a downside and was a precipitating factor in the decline of the nation. “Ignored were the great ideals and commandments of the Torah to help the poor, and to practice justice and loving kindness.” The prophet engaged in difficult conversations with leaders at every point and they were ignored.
In the Gospel reading we find a teaching from Jesus on worry. The warning is simple, “Why worry, it won’t add to your life.” Worry will not bring better relationships, basic things that make life more fulfilling. “Do not worry” is easier to say, than to practice. Undue worry can lead to difficult conversations. While “worry” seems altruistic in some ways, worry about the worrier and not about that person or persons or that situation or situations that appears to be the subject. Worry is sneaky, it can derail relationships and interrupt the joy of life.
We will discuss these and other matters this week in the preaching moment as we talk about Uncomfortable Conversations.