Today is unlike any other day…

It’s been a while since I’ve shared a post (something I’m hoping to remedy), and there are plenty of reasons for that – none of which are exciting stories. But as I prepare to begin a new season of life and ministry, I’m finding a pull back to writing and sharing. Most often my writing here is cathartic and helps me more than anyone who reads. Today I find myself in need of some of that catharsis.

There is much to be troubled about in our world. Just this morning, I woke to hear of another shooting, this time in Munich and a bombing in Afghanistan. It’s been a very sad time (Dallas, Nice, Minneapolis and more), coupled with what the political climate the world over (American elections, BREXIT, etc.) which equals a time when fear is normal. This might be something to expect (remember that whole rumors of wars thing that Jesus spoke about?) but what is concerning to me is that the same toxicity seems to be a part of the church that is supposed to be the hands of and feet of a savior who stretched out his arms for humanity. My own denomination is facing schism and the language we use for the “other side” sounds like the words of Civil War rather than friends who try and seek connection in what does unite us. We argue about all kinds of garbage and when there is something that actually matters or is worthy of discussion we’d much rather point fingers and waggle and call names and refuse real conversation. I think disheartening is a mild explanation.

I wake most mornings with a heavy heart, and that’s before I read the news. I find myself trudging through some days, hoping and praying for one day with no bad news. It’s a fearful thing to turn on the news. It’s nerve wracking to wonder what the next nonsensical thing will come out of our politicians mouths. Sitting in the car with my boys used to be a time of singing or having fun talks, now they ask questions about what could happen to them if they don’t agree with someone at their school or Scout troop (and I’m talking issues here, not just whether or not the lunch lady is trying to feed them cement in the form of mashed potatoes.)

And the word that seems to get a lot of air time is RAGE, and boy it’s a dangerous word. If you watch the GOP convention, then you can sense rage coming from the floor of the conference. Democrats are wasting no time spewing rage against their opponents – mocking speeches and miscues and promises. We see black men shot for no reason and feel rage and then we feel rage when cops are mowed down by a sniper. We feel rage when we see a truck plow through a crowded street killing 90 or so. We feel rage when justice and covenant are so easily broken. In the course of my week, rage reared its head multiple times – but what really am I, are we, raging against?

Paul said that our wrestling isn’t with flesh and blood – or politicians, or races, or ethnicities, or religions. Our wrestling – the fight we take up is against something darker and something far more sinister. I’m not a guy who believes there is a demon behind every little thing that goes wrong, but I am a guy who believes that the raging onslaught of sin continues to rip the fabric of creation a part. I’m not just talking about personal sin and choices that are easy to target. I’m talking about the insidious evil that seems to rumble just under the surface – something that turns good moments sour and then bitter and then deadly.

Now, I know from scripture that this sin is a condition – a DNA recoding that has all kinds of side effects. I also know, again from Scripture, that this DNA recoding has a cure and a fix. Ultimately, we’ll get to a day when this brokenness will be completely annihilated and I think we’re all gonna be surprised at how Grace Rules when that day comes. But before that moment, I think the DNA recoding occurs through daily choices to pursue a whole lot less self and a whole lot more others first. I mean most of the rage I see is about wanting “me-myself-and-I” first and foremost (individual, tribe, national identities, etc.). It seems pretty clear that when Jesus said follow me, he was inviting us to lay down self and pick up a lifestyle that says others first – and that alone can remove a whole lot of toxic selfishness.

Now, this other first thing doesn’t mean we don’t speak out or share a word of disagreement. No, it means when we do, we do so with grace and peace. We do so with encouragement and with a hope to reconcile. That after all is what the Kingdom coming on earth is really about, isn’t it? Reconciling what was broken, lost, torn a part and diseased?

I think, with all the disheartening events of this week, I’m going to choose to look at others with the same gaze that Christ seemed to walk with. The gaze that says there’s more than the undercurrent of ugly – that there is an audacious and laughable hope that is available and offers a much better way to live. I’m going to choose to take a stand and remember that “today is unlike any other day” and I have an opportunity to bring a little something more to those around me.

 

grace and peace…