Dear One's of St. C's, 

In seminary I had a class where we talked about the role of priest, prophet, and king in ourselves and in our world.  We wondered together how we reflect Christ in this way.  It’s a little like finding your enneagram number and figuring out which role you gravitate towards most naturally.  While keeping in mind that all three roles are needed to navigate this world and everyone can tap into each role depending on what is being asked of them. 

A priest holds the stories for people to stay grounded and rooted in their identity and orients them in these stories.  The priest longs to hold their people close and comfort them.  The prophet shakes things up and disorients.  The prophet speaks hard truths that cause the people to be unsure of the stories they have used to tell themselves about who they are.  And the king is only about love and has the ability to breath the reflection of the image of God back to people so they remember who they are at their core.  

I have been thinking a lot about the role of priest, prophet, and king during this time and navigating what I need and what those around me need.  I have wondered, in this moment do I need to take comfort in the stories that ground me? Or do I need to look at the lies in the stories that I have believed to turn a blind eye to injustice around me? Or do I just need to give into love and compassion for all? There is a time and place when each of these things are needed as we navigate how to live with this uncertainty and all that is being revealed about the injustices in our society.  See each role asks different questions. 

The prophet asks:  Who does our society treat as truly essential?  Who’s lives matter?  Where do we spend our money?  What do the companies we support reflect back to us about our values? 

The priests asks:  How have you experienced the comfort and peace of God? How have you weathered hard storms in the past?  What rituals are you engaging in to remember the story of God’s faithfulness in your life and throughout time?

The king asks:  When did you offer grace to yourself and others today? When did you take deep breathes to remember that you are precious in God’s sight?  How did you find the reflection of God in yourself and others as you navigated your day?

During this time we must continually orient ourself, allow room for disorientation, and allow love and compassion to encompass our actions.  Whenever you are needing priestly guidance, prophetic guidance, or kingly guidance return to the questions above.  Allow them to help you understand where God is during this time and where you are in the story of God that is unfolding before us.  

grace and peace be on your homes, 

Meghan