Letter 84 - How Then Shall We Live??

Hello Bregdan Woman,

You have Suess today…

The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde.

When spoken aloud, her name, along with her title creates a mouthful of sounds. I vaguely knew of her as a threadbare connection a few years ago with a friend’s wedding. My knowledge deepened when this New Jersey born, and Colorado raised girl, rose to U.S. national attention because of her soft-spoken decision to speak strong truth in love and to stand courageously in the gap for humanity.

I am not of the Episcopalian Faith. I have no ties to its leaders, manners, protocols or procedures. I don’t understand the titles, roles or responsibility of its clergy. I do not attempt to explain the process upon how Mariann developed into The Right Reverend, yet…

YET is my favorite word! 😊

YET, in the Rev. Mariann Budde I utterly recognize a beautiful Bregdan Woman.

A Bregdan Woman takes her life, her opinions, her views and her choices… and she acts. A Bregdan Woman steps into messy life events. A Bregdan Woman looks directly into difficulties to bring hope.

A Bregdan Woman understands the nuances of, and lives with decisive actions, the truth of the Bregdan Principal:

I have read numerous interviews, watched her in action, studied her writings, listened to her sermons, researched programs she initiated, followed the line of diverse relationships that she consciously developed and built. No, I do not know her personally, YET…

YET I know her well, for she is a Bregdan Woman.

What has Rev. Mariann Budde done to become a Bregdan Woman?

She has spent her entire life, thus far, in service with people, for people and to people.

Through her beloved Episcopalian church, she has

- volunteered as a missionary around the world

- worked in blue jeans and t-shirts at the “ground” level of the organization as laity

- been ordained first as a deacon and subsequently as an assistant priest, a rector, then finally a Bishop

- studied for years collegiately to claim a Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate degree

- and appears on PBS, Meet the Press, Good Morning America, and the Today show.

She also rides bicycles, cooks dinner, babysits her grandchildren and visits with friends.

Professionally, she is a FIRST for Washington D.C. USA. The FIRST FEMALE Diocesan Bishop… which translates that she “serves as spiritual leader for 86 Episcopal congregations (38,000 members) and ten Episcopal schools in the District of Columbia and four Maryland counties.

The first woman elected to this position, she also serves as the chair of the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation, which oversees the ministries of the Washington National Cathedral and Cathedral schools.” Quote from the Episcopal Diocese of Washington website and (parenthesis this authors).

Bottom line? She is a very busy Bregdan Woman – with lots of responsibilities!

I admit again, I do not fully understand the distinctions of her “titles” –nor do I care too much. I joke often and say that I am neither easily impressed nor easily offended.

YET: :) I readily acknowledge that Rev. Budde would be most welcome at my table. I would eagerly spend a day under a tree and talk to her. Learn from her. Listen to her.

Bregdan Women are tenacious. Stubborn. Outspoken. Dreamers. Doers. Lovers of People. Dedicated to making a DIFFERENCE in their decisions, actions and their words.

Rev. Budde stands as a Bregdan Woman in her actions.

She proudly assisted in the exchanging of the stained-glass windows in Washington National Cathedral, removing the windows that once honored Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s fight to end our nation’s union.

The Cathedral’s Now and Forever Windows capture eloquently and poetically …” the resilience, faith and endurance of African Americans, and our nation’s struggle with the original sins of racism and slavery. “

Rev. Budde stands as a Bregdan Woman in her words.

She challenges. She stands boldly and speaks in quiet confidence.

She speaks strong and powerful words to American Presidents, White House Cabinet members and their organizers to respect and honor sacred Church ground.

She speaks strong and powerful words of truth to American Presidents, White House Cabinet members and their organizers to honor and recognize the dignity of every human being.

She speaks strong and powerful words of truth to American Presidents, White House Cabinet members and their organizers to legislate justly, to demonstrate mercy and to walk humbly.

She speaks strong and powerful words of truth to American Presidents, White House Cabinet members and their organizers to care for immigrants, for LGBTQ persons and for the environment.

She speaks strong and powerful words of truth to American Presidents, White House Cabinet members and their organizers to end the terror of U.S. gun violence.

Again: The Bregdan Principal!

In 2023, Budde published How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith. The following quote stopped me for a long moment of reflection to its wisdom.

“The capacity to respond [bravely] . . . doesn’t drop from the sky, nor is its significance measured by a week’s worth of media coverage. That kind of boldness, is preceded by countless, smaller decisions that summon bravery. Its ultimate significance is determined by how we live after a moment passes.”

Countless, smaller decisions about how we should then live. Powerful!

How do we summon courage to be Bregdan Woman in an increasingly complex world?

How does Rev. Mariann do it? When asked in a recent interview: “…where are you finding peace and joy and comfort in the present moment?”

Her answer echoes those of a Bregdan Woman worldwide:

“I’m going to live my life in the realm of hope, if not for myself, then for the people coming up behind me…. To find hope, my ‘well’ needs to be replenished, so I need to spend time in beauty. I need to spend time with children. I need to spend time reflecting on the wisdom of people who lived or are living now in much harder times than I, and still are able to find joy and love. I am flawed. I am aware of all the things that will make my desires for impact be muted by reality. And at the same time, we don’t get a pass. What did Gandalf say to Frodo? ‘It’s not the times you live in, it’s how you choose to live in the times you’re given.’”

That last line bears repeating…

“It’s not the times you live in, it’s how you choose to live in the times you’re given.”

Today as Bregdan Women, we will experience countless times to make small decisions to ripple positive encouragement or negative criticism to those around. We do well to reflect on Rev. Marianne Bodde’s words to choose to live in HOPE – if not for ourselves then for the people coming up behind us.

How will Bregdan Women choose to live in these times that we have been given?

How will Bregdan Women choose to HOPE?

I’d love to hear your answer. Write me and let know how your actions and words reflect and ripple.

*********************

We’re on this journey with you… (and have 2 FREE Gifts for you below…)

Ginny & Suess

CLICK IMAGE BELOW TO CLAIM YOUR FREE GIFTS!