This is a Picture

This is a picture that caught my eye the other day.

This is a picture that speaks the proverbial thousand words. Words like joy. Freedom. Partnership. Mutuality. Respect.

This is a picture of Reverend Anne Robertson, a pastor in the United Methodist Church, anointing the head of Sean O’Malley, Cardinal of Boston. O’Malley invited Reverend Robertson to offer him a reaffirmation of his baptism (story here) after he had done the same for her.

This is a picture of male privilege being joyfully overturned. It’s a picture of a man laying down his power, willingly submitting himself to the leadership of a woman. It’s a picture of Tertullian being challenged.

This is a picture of vision. Of a future that we could one day see. What if one day it becomes as normal for women to bless men as it is for men to bless women today?

Most of all…

This is a picture of hope.