As the Day Begins

I woke up this morning, with a biblical text moving through my mind.  That doesn’t always happen, so I paid extra attention as the new day was dawning.  And, this is that text:  “For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”  This is Romans 1:16 from the New Revised Standard Version.  The good news is powerful.  Even in his death on the cross—especially his death on the cross—Jesus shows us the power of God to bring salvation, to change lives, to transform our troubles, and to reach across the terrible divides that separate and destroy relationships.

This morning, the words that sound the loudest are these, “and also.”  The gospel is expansive in its reach.  It is not just for the salvation of the Jews; rather, it is also for the Gentiles, for the non-Jews, for the nations of the world.  The author is Paul.  The apostle was proud of his heritage, and rightly so.  But, he came to see that everyone—all others all around the world were also included in the gospel’s powerful grasp.  God loves and accepts everybody.  The outstretched arms of our Savior embrace all with life not just when we die, but right now.

This gospel is so different from the divisive, hateful rhetoric we hear blasted at us from our politicians and pundits in these days.  When trouble comes, it is so easy to point at someone else and make them our scapegoat.  Perhaps it is human nature to separate ourselves from others and to focus on our differences rather than to see the other person as our kindred.  All share the love of God.  All share the life of Jesus Christ.  All share the power of the Holy Spirit.

Well, it’s morning.  It’s a new day in an old world.  I choose to dwell this day with a verse of scripture that inspires me.  I will look for every opportunity to live the power of the gospel in my relationships—especially in my encounters with those who seem so different and difficult, those scary ones.  I will listen to them.  I will imagine loving them as God loves them.  I will do what I can while I can to stand with those who are ostracized, vilified, criminalized, and left to fend for themselves.  The gospel is power to change minds and open hearts.  The gospel is the power of God to change the world.  And, in fact, it has already changed me again today.

Thank you, God!  Thank you!

No Place for Children

During the major protest event in Washington, D.C. last Saturday, a group of teenage boys from Covington Catholic High School in Park Hills, Kentucky found themselves at the center of confrontations between several groups, including Black Hebrew Israelites and Native Americans.   In watching the extensive social media footage of that difficult time, it is clear that this group of high school students did not provoke the trouble that they experienced.  What seems equally clear is that this group of young people were ill equipped to respond to the situations they faced at the Lincoln Memorial on Saturday.

One wonders about the wisdom of having high school youth traveling to Washington, D.C. on a weekend of multiple protests, including the one that brought them there to protest against the legality of abortion in the United States.  One wonders about the role of adults from Kentucky who accompanied these boys--their chaperones, parents, teachers, and administrators.  Where were they?  Why do so few of these adults appear to help diffuse the situation?

I also noted the red hats with that political logo of the Trump administration:  "Make America Great Again."  Is this the way we make America "Great?"  I wonder whether these students, many of whom are not yet old enough to vote, realize that they are being co-opted by being thrust into an adult world before they are really prepared to be there.

As I watched the footage of the various encounters in the video, I put myself there and wondered how I would have responded as a senior citizen, who has been a long-time disciple of Jesus.  I think that I would have been afraid.  I would have resisted by not engaging with those shouting their ideology at me.  I would have walked away, not giving their anger a place to take root in me.  All groups had a right to peacefully protest on Saturday.  They all had a right to be there, but wisdom is evident in knowing when to engage and when to walk away.  When there is no opportunity for meaningful dialogue and respect, it is time to walk away.

I applaud Elder Nathan Phillips for trying to diffuse the initial conflict, but I also believe that the group of boys did not have the maturity and background to appreciate what he was doing or sufficiently understand his heritage.  It created a scene that was disrespectful and inappropriate.  What are the lessons that adults must teach our children about cultural heritage and acceptance of other peoples?

And, in the end, I still believe that such protests are no place for our children to be thrust into a contentious, adult environment without preparation and adequate accompaniment by their elders.  Let us pray for our children.  May they be prepared well.