the work of unity
My heart has hurt for the last year. Just when I thought that nothing could make it worse, there would be yet another news story filled with hateful words and painful circumstances or yet another Facebook post with friends and family fighting and throwing written punches back and forth. My heart hurts because of so much hatred and anger and pain.
Tuesday, I voted. And as the polls were closing on the East Coast, I went to church. I gathered with my favorite pastor and members of our church family who fall on both sides of the political spectrum. Together we declared peace and unity. Together we declared that we belong to God and that our allegiance is to Him. We gathered around the Communion Table, we joined hands, and we raised a song in prayer that the Lord would bind our hearts together as one.
We broke bread to remind us of how Jesus allowed Himself to be broken for us. We took the cup to remind us of how Love poured Himself out for us. We prayed for unity instead of division. We prayed for peace instead of war. We prayed for love instead of hatred. We prayed for hope instead of despair. We prayed for oneness because "There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:4-6)
I woke up Wednesday morning to one party that won and one party that lost. I woke up to more posts filled with division and hurtful words. This was a day to which I had looked forward, the day when this election would finally be over. However, instead of relief I found myself grieving. I found myself in deep sorrow for the friends and family who have wounded each other. I woke up Wednesday morning with the realization that we can't just move past this election.
There is too much pain, too much hurt, too much brokenness that has been revealed. I find myself wondering how we begin to heal, how we begin to unify. I see posts saying in effect: The election is over, now we must be united despite which side we were on before. The problem is that it isn't that simple.
We don't tell someone who has been physically beaten up that they just need to get up and shake hands with the person who just beat them to a pulp. We have to start caring for each other regardless of political affiliation. We have to start seeing the wounds that have been caused. We have to gather together and minister to each other. We have to listen to each other.
The work of peace and unity is hard work. It is not done overnight. It is not done through reminding people that it's all over now, and we just have to get along. It is not done by pointing out how one candidate won and one candidate lost because one was right and the other was wrong. It is also not accomplished by the stubborn refusal to move forward and attempt to work together.
The work of peace and unity is done through the difficult work of listening and loving well. We have to listen to the hurt, fears, and pain instead of telling someone they need to move past it, instead of telling them they are wrong. There are people on both sides who are deeply wounded because of things that were said and done during this election. We must treat each other with kindness and respect in order to begin to heal.
Are we willing? Are we willing to be broken for those who are broken? Are we willing to listen instead of talk? Are we willing to pour ourselves out in forbearance with those who have a different opinion than us? Are we willing to treat with decency and respect those who hold different beliefs than ours?
If we want to be unified, we must first be willing to listen without trying to make ourselves heard. If we want to be one, we must first be willing to forgive the wrongs we have endured without expecting anything in return. If we want to be whole, we must first be willing to be broken and poured out.
Tuesday, I voted. And as the polls were closing on the East Coast, I went to church. I gathered with my favorite pastor and members of our church family who fall on both sides of the political spectrum. Together we declared peace and unity. Together we declared that we belong to God and that our allegiance is to Him. We gathered around the Communion Table, we joined hands, and we raised a song in prayer that the Lord would bind our hearts together as one.
We broke bread to remind us of how Jesus allowed Himself to be broken for us. We took the cup to remind us of how Love poured Himself out for us. We prayed for unity instead of division. We prayed for peace instead of war. We prayed for love instead of hatred. We prayed for hope instead of despair. We prayed for oneness because "There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:4-6)
I woke up Wednesday morning to one party that won and one party that lost. I woke up to more posts filled with division and hurtful words. This was a day to which I had looked forward, the day when this election would finally be over. However, instead of relief I found myself grieving. I found myself in deep sorrow for the friends and family who have wounded each other. I woke up Wednesday morning with the realization that we can't just move past this election.
There is too much pain, too much hurt, too much brokenness that has been revealed. I find myself wondering how we begin to heal, how we begin to unify. I see posts saying in effect: The election is over, now we must be united despite which side we were on before. The problem is that it isn't that simple.
We don't tell someone who has been physically beaten up that they just need to get up and shake hands with the person who just beat them to a pulp. We have to start caring for each other regardless of political affiliation. We have to start seeing the wounds that have been caused. We have to gather together and minister to each other. We have to listen to each other.
The work of peace and unity is hard work. It is not done overnight. It is not done through reminding people that it's all over now, and we just have to get along. It is not done by pointing out how one candidate won and one candidate lost because one was right and the other was wrong. It is also not accomplished by the stubborn refusal to move forward and attempt to work together.
The work of peace and unity is done through the difficult work of listening and loving well. We have to listen to the hurt, fears, and pain instead of telling someone they need to move past it, instead of telling them they are wrong. There are people on both sides who are deeply wounded because of things that were said and done during this election. We must treat each other with kindness and respect in order to begin to heal.
Are we willing? Are we willing to be broken for those who are broken? Are we willing to listen instead of talk? Are we willing to pour ourselves out in forbearance with those who have a different opinion than us? Are we willing to treat with decency and respect those who hold different beliefs than ours?
If we want to be unified, we must first be willing to listen without trying to make ourselves heard. If we want to be one, we must first be willing to forgive the wrongs we have endured without expecting anything in return. If we want to be whole, we must first be willing to be broken and poured out.
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