Tags
butker, Commencement, commencement speech, Harrison Butker, homemaker, misogyny, NFL, nfl kicker, patriarchy, Prayer, Prayers, progressive Christianity
God of talents reaching all of humanity,
We have reached beyond the barriers of a new millennium by a quarter of a century. We’ve seen the progress which all genders have made. We’ve celebrated the gifts which all genders experience. No matter your gender, you contribute to this world in all types of ways. There are no limits-
Until a commencement speech says otherwise. Back in the kitchen? God we don’t all have culinary skills. Women as homemakers? Maybe some women, or men, or non-binary friends because that is THEIR calling. And not everyone has the same gifts.
I’m no homemaker. You didn’t call me to such spaces. You asked me to preach, to teach, to care for the sick, to encourage my neighbor, to inspire.
And as many women look ahead to the future with bursting dreams, their graduation speaker tells them that home is where they need to be.
I couldn’t imagine being a women in 1950, dreadfully forced to stay home and cook. Urged to set aside ambition of using my calling and gifts. Yet, here we are with men wanted to ship us back to the mid-20th century.
Bless the women who are homemakers. Bless all genders who are called to care for the home and children. We give thanks for their calling as we know it’s their own.
But Holy Dreamer and Deliverer of Gifts, you didn’t limit us based on gender or anything else. So let’s toss aside his voice and move ahead knowing that you, God, is bigger than his image of you. You rip expectations apart as you fill this world with every possibility imaginable.
May you Spirit turn over these small-minded misogynists as they learn to open themselves to YOUR dreams.
Amen.
(c) 2024 Rev. Michelle L. Torigian
Artwork by ArtsyBee on Pixabay