"I don't know what the world's coming to." I remember older people saying that when I was growing up. Now I find myself wondering along the same lines. The world seems to be a conflicted place; globalized, polarized and destabilized. Our own country is experiencing depths of division that are putting families, communities and friendships under such strains, that they threaten the common good of shared and caring communal life. Watching television over the past two weeks -- particularly the impeachment hearings -- taught me to pay attention to the division in new ways.
"Blessed are the peacemakers." Jesus knew about the more challenging life skills. Wherever we are there are situations going wrong. People get angry, words are said, resentments are verbalized on social media, alliances are formed and though we might not use the word, enemies are made.
Christians serious about following Jesus work hard at being peacemakers, servants of reconciliation, exemplars of forgiveness. Wherever we are -- home, office, the checkout, the parking lot -- our default disposition is peacemaker. In places of conflicted hurt we dismantle walls and build bridges:
"Blessed are the peacemakers." Jesus knew about the more challenging life skills. Wherever we are there are situations going wrong. People get angry, words are said, resentments are verbalized on social media, alliances are formed and though we might not use the word, enemies are made.
Christians serious about following Jesus work hard at being peacemakers, servants of reconciliation, exemplars of forgiveness. Wherever we are -- home, office, the checkout, the parking lot -- our default disposition is peacemaker. In places of conflicted hurt we dismantle walls and build bridges:
- by persistent, patient actions of peace,
- by resilient, responsive acts of reconciliation,
- by gentle, gracious words of goodness,
- by faith-filled, faithful prayers of friendship,
- by holy, hopeful gestures of healing.