The October Wall

Monday, November 17, 2025

Happy Monday, my friends! I live next to a historic brick school. When it was first built, over 100 years ago, it was the town’s high school. Through subsequent changes and renovations, it has served different groups of students and now hosts students in grades K-5. This morning, I watched one of the students bolt down the sidewalk, up the stairs to the building’s front lawn, across the lawn, and up the stairs into the building. Arms flailing, book bag and jacket barely hanging on, they remarkably stayed upright and made it into school. I couldn’t have done that, but they were an apt metaphor for how I feel at this time of year.

I’ve lived much of my life on academic calendars and regardless of the school, college, or university, there is a reality we often call the “October wall,” though it tends to continue well into November. No matter how excited students, faculty, and staff are for the start of the school year or how much they dread the end of summer, there is always a feeling of newness that helps people transition into the academic year. September is, therefore, hopeful and filled with potential, but October, particularly the second half of October, is different. By about October 15 people—not just students—are no longer filled with so much hope. They’re in the long slog which feels like the middle of the proverbial tunnel: the light from the entrance has faded and the light at the end is just a spec on the horizon. Enter November and the loss of actual light by 5pm and the metaphor becomes reality. The October wall is not so much an obstacle to tackle as it is something one runs into without really seeing.

My October wall has almost always been boredom. I begin the semester excited for the newness and the challenge of courses and study, but by the end of October I’m ready to be done. I’m ready to move on. It doesn’t matter how decent or even incredible the material, I still feel an enormous level of boredom and even apathy.

Our lives often flow in similar waves of excitement and boredom. Have you ever enthusiastically volunteered for a committee or to plan an event only to find yourself questioning that decision a few months in? We learn to put on a “good” face and be positive about fulfilling our commitments even if we loathe every damn moment.

What is your “October wall?” How do you overcome boredom and apathy in the roles you’ve taken on?

Let us pray: God, we usually don’t think of you as being bored or apathetic, but maybe you feel that way too. Be our example and model for living with and fighting the internal forces which cause us to lose interest and struggle to meet our commitments. Help us find ways to show up, work, and live in the midst of our October walls and any time our interest wanes. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Blessings on your weeks, my friends! Please let me know if there’s anything I can do for you.

Faithfully,

Ben +

Unity and Inclusion

Sunday, November 16, 2025

NV Gay (they/she)

Founder, Mx. Gay’s Creative Direction

Queer Christian

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts forms one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

(1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

When we reflect upon the call for inclusion, we must remember that Christ has called us to love and affirm all humanity, not just those who are similar to us. While it might not be intentional, we find as humans an attraction to build a community with people who are similar to us. We often choose comfort in conformity rather than forcing ourselves into discomfort with those people who might look or act differently than ourselves. Think about it, when was the last time you intentionally walked outside of your comfort zone just to empathize with the lives others live?

Congregations often will raise money or perform “charitable” acts of kindness by working at homeless shelters, or free stores; but how often do you see them changing their lives in order to include those who are different in their daily lives?

Jesus taught us to live amongst the unwelcome and unwanted, as that is the only way to truly create a community built upon inclusion and diversity. I think back to my childhood church, where for a couple months the congregation invited a couple who was disabled and living in poverty. This couple was only able to attend if members of the congregation donated their time to drive them to and from the church. For a few months, members were eager to perform this charitable act, but soon it became a burden to members of the congregation. As members were not as eager to drive this couple, their attendance decreased to a point where they did not come at all. Is this what Christ calls us to do? It is important to create a congregation on diversity, equity, and inclusion; members will be forced into inconvenient and uncomfortable situations. Only when forcing yourself to step out of your comfort zone will you truly learn how to create a community that is truly preaching the message of Christ.

Remember that Christ loved and affirmed all of humanity, and constantly aligned with those who were not considered to be “accepted.” You are neither the judge of humanity nor one who can determine who deserves our Creator’s love and acceptance.

Reflection

What can you do to help your congregation or community become more inclusive and Christ-like?

Press Release - Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (ELCA) Joins Church Partner Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 11, 2025

LOVEboldly is happy to announce that Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (ELCA) has officially joined the LOVEboldly Church Partner Program.

LOVEboldly's Executive Director, the Rev. Dr. Ben Huelskamp, said, "The partnership between Holy Trinity and LOVEboldly has been in the works since Summer 2024 and our collaboration together has already featured supporting Holy Trinity's writing of their affirming statement and Holy Trinity's pastor, the Rev. Steve Wachtman, participating in both Interfaith Pride Services (a LOVEboldly/Stonewall Columbus collaborative program)."

Holy Trinity's established Neighbor-to-Neighbor Social Justice Ministry is providing support for the congregation's partnership with LOVEboldly.

You can find Holy Trinity online at https://engagedbygrace.org.

LOVEboldly is an Ohio, faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit creating spaces where LGBTQIA+ people can flourish in Christianity and beyond. You can learn more about LOVEboldly's work by visiting www.loveboldly.net.

//