by Erin Robinson Hall | Nov 18, 2014 | Reflections |
I’m learning that I need surprise in the Church, little unexpected signs that there’s a rhythm of grace and redemption that is moving this Body along to try some new moves. I was on a women’s retreat recently with mothers, grandmothers, women who have run businesses, women who command auditoriums full of people – a classy group of well-mannered gals. After a weekend full of honest prayers, soulful reflections, real tears and belly laughs, we were ending our session for Saturday night. In the meeting room, some ladies were snacking, others were adding finishing touches to their pottery creations from the day. Crafty, I am not. So, I gave up my sad little attempt at pottery and decided if I couldn’t be artsy I could add some tunes to the moment. I walked over, plugged my iPhone into the speakers and gave us a little mellow music. Then, I decided we needed a little pep for the evening. I clicked on a different song, a personal favorite for my family’s kitchen dancing: Taylor Swift “Shake It Off.” I worried for a minute that this pastor’s wife may have shocked the whole bunch of ladies when I looked up to see a DANCE PARTY going on. These (seemingly) well-mannered gals were breaking it down. Naturally, the only appropriate song one should play next at a church women’s retreat is Beyonce’s “Love on Top.” This is where it got real, folks, with real-live, soul-train style dance line. I was almost in tears at the delight of this surprise, when I looked to see one of the grandmothers in the group walk...
by Erin Robinson Hall | Sep 18, 2014 | Archives, Reflections |
The grocery store could have given me a little warning. Maybe I should have paid attention to the pumpkins and mums outside. Or used common sense to know that it is Fall, even if it’s still one thousand degrees and humid outside. It didn’t occur to me that our normal trip to Kroger turn into a trip of terror for my toddler. We made it as far as the grocery carts, when he began to shriek, cry, and rapidly crawl UP MY FACE. Terror. What in the world was wrong? The Halloween display. A gigantic display of ghoulish masks and ghosts. Real cute, Kroger. There we stood, in the entrance to the grocery store. Me, thinking through the few things we did in fact HAVE to buy. Him, shaking with fear and crying on my shoulder, refusing to sit in the cart. For a million minutes we stood in the entrance, while I glared at anyone who seemed annoyed at the little parenting moment I was having right there. I thought about hopping back in the car and trying this again another time. I thought about begging the check-out girl to run and get me some milk and dog food. Then, I had a moment of Mom clarity and realized this is one of those moments where I had to change the story and let my child know that fear was not bigger than him. He finally made it back into the shopping cart. (There may have been fruit snacks involved.) We used a little self-talk and dramatic play throughout the entire produce section. (The smiles from the grandmas made me...
by Erin Robinson Hall | May 9, 2014 | Archives, Reflections |
My sister blogs at Clothesline Confessional, and she wrote about her struggle with infertility on Mother’s Day. She asked for others to share their story on The Laundry, and this is what I shared: I quietly avoided Mother’s day for a few years. Quietly, in the sense that our journey through infertility was deeply private and personal and I just couldn’t bear silly platitudes or awful questions people think they can throw out when they are faced with something as baffling as infertility. Inside, however, I was not quiet. Storms of emotion raged. My answer was to just avoid church on Mother’s Day, with whatever excuse I could think up. So much so that one year I actually chose to go sweat and work outside rather than be at church. In April 2011, tornadoes devastated many parts of AL and GA. One of those parts is near and dear to my sister: Tuscaloosa. As we heard about the loss of homes, water, power and lives there, we wanted badly to help. Several organizations were right there on the ground, immediately, helping. Sister wept for the damage to this community she loved and when she heard that her best partner in crime was heading to Tuscaloosa to do disaster relief, she called me: “Sister, we’re going to Tuscaloosa. Storm relief. Want to come?” I informed her that most organizations were saying donate money to the red cross (which we did) and pray (which we did) and wait to see what needs emerged. She said, “That’s nice. We’re going anyway. Have no idea what we’ll do there, but we’re going.” I...
by erinrobinsonhall@gmail.com | Feb 25, 2014 | Archives, Reflections |
And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. —Matthew 6:5-8 We have been seen by others, and they think they know exactly who we are. The Netflix account in our house keeps our favorite movies just a click away, which is perfect for my husband Jake, the movie buff. With data about the movies you watch, the types of stories you like, and the lead actors you favor, Netflix sets up a genre for you. Jake became rather proud of the category he had curated: “visually striking cerebral dramas.” Smarty pants. He was less than pleased when he turned on Netflix after a few visits from my mother. Her night owl movie choices had created a whole new image for us. Apparently, Jake was likely to enjoy “British comedies with strong female leads.” We laughed, but he claimed Mom was messing with his image. Amazon thinks they have us down to a science too. They can now use “anticipatory package shipping,”...
by erinrobinsonhall@gmail.com | Feb 19, 2014 | Archives, Reflections |
You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. —Matthew 5:13-14 In seminary, I served at Big Bethel AME Church in Atlanta. Along with jumping head-first into new traditions, I got to know some of the beautiful people of this historic church. One of my new friends was Joshua. Joshua was an energetic five-year-old boy who never stopped asking questions. His mom, Angela, and his two brothers were at church whenever the doors were open. During Lent, I attended the Ash Wednesday service, ready to help the ministry staff in whatever way I was needed. It turned out that the place I was needed most was right in the pews. The practice of Big Bethel Church was to invite people to come forward to receive ashes. Then anyone wanting a time of personal prayer could remain at the front, praying at the long kneeling bench. Angela took her three boys to receive ashes and then turned on the Mom voice to give them direct instructions: “Go with your oldest brother and sit down quietly.” Angela needed a minute at the altar. Two of the three brothers did exactly as they were told. But my buddy, Joshua, began to dance his way up the aisle, high-fiving everyone he saw. With my best teacher voice, I waved him over, and he plopped down next to me. He wanted to chat....
by erinrobinsonhall@gmail.com | Feb 7, 2014 | Archives, Reflections |
The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written, One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. —Matthew 4:1-7 For me, it would have been chocolate. This moment of testing would begin and end with the Accuser showing up in my moment of deep, spiritual discernment and teasing me with candy. Hershey’s nuggets with toffee and almonds, to be exact. I do keep a secret bag of them hidden in my house for emergencies, you know. Satan would not have to go far to tempt me. The words sound a lot like the words spoken to Jesus just a short time before: “You are. . .” The Accuser uses words of identity that seem to echo the name spoken over Jesus in baptism. But Satan twists the words from “beloved Son” to “Since you are the son of God.” There’s just enough of a twist to these words to make the temptations sound like they could make sense. Since you are God’s Son, turn some stones to bread, lord over all the earth’s kingdoms, just jump. These temptations are tailor-made for Jesus. The Accuser’s words hold just enough truth that they tilt the truth towards the lie. Since you are the Son of God, why not? The Accuser often reaches close to shape the lies that tempt us. There’s always a little truth in the whispers. If only chocolate was the only temptation I keep close by. Since you have...
