The Oprah Magazine Features Rev. Kate Braestrup
Category: Unitarian Universalism - General
This month’s O magazine includes a full-length article by Unitarian Universalist minister Kate Braestrup, adapted from her recent memoir, Here If You Need Me. Rev. Braestrup recounts the death of her husband, Drew, and how she now serves as a law enforcement chaplain, comforting other families in crisis. By sharing her own theological insights, Rev. Braestrup helps readers understand the loving message of Unitarian Universalism. As her children ask questions about their father’s death, Braestrup answers:
God does not spill the milk or bash the truck into your father’s car. Nowhere in the Scripture does it say ‘God is Car Accident’ or ‘God is Death.’ God is justice and kindness, mercy, and always, always love. So if you want to know where God is in this and or in anything, look for love.
July 27th, 2007 23:46
I appreciate her point that God doesn’t spill milk smash trucks - I feel like too many people still envision God with some sort of control board up there hitting the “stuck by lightening” button or something. I also think it is important to help people thing about God not “pushing buttons” or “causing” good things either like healing from cancer, or living a long life, or having a safe pregnancy. Because of the other side of this coin is that God is NOT making good things happen to some people. I was once in a class where the teacher/minister declared that “God is an on-time God” - there when you need him! Always in time - but his own time. Which, of course, means that somehow he could intervene in the suffering death of the two year old (or whatever horrible situation), but doesn’t because that is not “God’s time.” Which I just hate. Anyway, a long way of affirming this posting and the article.
July 28th, 2007 11:21
Elizabeth and Emerson, Thank you for raising these points of theology and scriptural interpretation. The passage from Rev. Braestrup is complicated, perhaps more complicated than I initially considered. What drew me to her words was her emphasis on the loving nature of God, which for many people who know little about Unitarian Universalism, could encourage them to learn more about our faith.
However, you both raise valuable concerns about her statement. Emerson, I would have to agree that in my reading of the scripture, God does sometimes appear violent and even murderous. This is one reason why, in my own life, I do not see scripture as infallible or as a necessary basis for religious understanding (although certain passages from scripture have been very meaningful in my religious journey). But I’m very curious how Rev. Braestrup would describe the role of scripture in her life and how she reconciles the difficult passages.
Elizabeth, I have definitely struggled with this question of why, if God is responsible for good things, he does not bring those things to all suffering people. The only sense I can make of it is that God is working to do good things for people, but that there are other forces in the world, including human selfishness and violence, that can obstruct God’s will. I realize this implies that God is not all powerful on this earth, which I’m reluctant to believe. But it does help me start to make sense of how God can be good and yet people still suffer unfair and terrible losses.
Emerson, I think it’s only fair to point out that Mack Mitchell is no longer fellowshipped by the UU, nor, as far as I know, serving in any congregation. The phrase “former UU minister” would be more accurate.
August 7th, 2007 10:28
This comment was written in response to a previous comment that has since been deleted.
I don’t believe Rev. Braestrup had “glaring inaccuracies”, I believe she offers up her insights to the study of Theology. I believe those that claim her interpretation to be wrong can only do so because they’re trying to force their opinions on her. I believe Theology is entirely open to interpretation as a living book must be, and also feel she is correct in her assessments. I think she offers comfort to those in need in situations where most of us would be incapable of comforting ourselves, let alone others. I agree with her idea that God is love, but that God’s work isn’t in creating events, but in creating those who make the events happen.
September 19th, 2007 11:43
I think you should read a book titled” When God Does Not Make Sense” which basically answers many of your questions that you may have. Ultimately I believe that God is in charge of all good things that happen to people and that nothing is a coincidence. Realistically we all have to die at some time so that does not mean that God does not want good for all people. People need to also learn how to use wisdom in their life and learn how to listen to God’s voice and reading the scriptures is one way to discern God’s voice. I believe that God is in total control and that in good and bad circumstances “all things work together for the good”. I rather live my life knowing that there is a God rather than believing that there isn’t, than to die and find out that there is. We will never figure out God because He is supernatural and can not be “figured” out but His Word (Bible) is the book to get to know Him.