Pink Jesus

When the Executive Council met recently in Parsippany, NJ, the Women's Commission of the Diocese of Newark decided to mark the occasion by honoring Presiding Bishop Katharine and President of the House of Deputies, Bonnie Anderson with a few gifts.

Because of the impossible vocation of her particular call, we gave Bonnie an "Answer Me, Jesus."

It's neon-pink and has one of those black liquid balls often seen in those "Ask the 8-Ball" toys. You must remember them from your youth. You move it around as you ask a question like, "Will I have a date to the dance Friday night?" Then, you turn the thing upside down and an answer would float to the top, like, "Highly unlikely." At which point, you would run off sobbing to the girl's room to be consoled by your girlfriends who just LOVED the drama.

Here, Bonnie and I ask Jesus a question about what the next day might bring. As I recall, it was actually a serious question - one that gave me a wee bit of a hint about the weight of the office of leadership at the national level in these difficult days in the church.

I believe the response Jesus made was quite clear.

Emerging from the dark liquid of the bottom of his pink feet, Jesus answered, "I'll have to ask my father."

That Jesus! Watta guy, eh?

Leadership in the church is often a thankless, lonely work of ministry. I have come to know that if we've lost our sense of humor, we've lost why it was Jesus called us to the work in the first place.

My colleagues in the picture are: Top Row: Lyn Headley-Deavours,Bonnie Anderson (holding "Answer Me Jesus"), Marge Christie, Sandye Wilson and Diana Clark. Seated: Martha Gardner and Elizabeth Kaeton.

I'm deeply grateful to Mary Frances Schjonberg for sending these pictures.

P.S. We gave Bishop Katharine a lovely glass box, engraved with her name and inscribed with the words from Sirach 26:10: "Keep strict watch over a headstrong daughter, lest, when she finds liberty, she will use it."

Bishop Katharine laughed delightedly and exclaimed, "Oh, I'll have to send this quote to my father."

She also send a hand written thank you note the very next day. Her Momma obviously taught her well.

Late addition: For those of you who have asked, you can find "Answer Me Jesus" at Future Memories. He normally sells for $19.95, but happens to be on sale for $14.95 or two for $28.

See? You get Jesus AND a good deal!

Or, as the saying goes in evangelical circles, "Jesus is good all the time" . . .but he only goes on sale occasionally.