On Wednesday evening, January 06, I was glued to the news site watching the mob storm the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. I watched in total disbelief. This could not be happening to our neighbor. This country could not be enduring so much anger and chaos.
But when evil happens and when it is deliberately perpetrated by political leaders I must take hold of my Christian faith. In no way means that it lessens the power and the suffering caused by evil human beings. It does not mean that we deny or refuse to face the evil that is happening in our world. I am not retreating to try to deny the reality of evil.
The resurrection of Jesus (and the promise that we too will rise and triumph as Christ) clearly proclaims that the powers of evil do not have the last word. Darkness will be overcome! Evil and death will be no more!
Where there is evil, sin and darkness I must turn toward the light that the very Spirit of God gives us in these terrible days. Where there is evil, I am being challenged to plant goodness, hope and compassion.
Our faith challenges us to believe (and gives us power to live our convictions ) that light is always stronger than darkness, love more powerful than hate and goodness will triumph over evil.
A piece of earthy wisdom that has given me strength is, “it is better to light one candle than to ever curse the darkness.’
When someone is so negative about a co-worker I am challenged to speak two good words about the person that you just tried to put down!
When someone hurls a racial slur about people of different color, ethnicity or religious background I am challenged to bring forth the goodness of the very persons you tried to stamp into the ground.
Our churches, as leaders in this regard, must encourage and support us to always believe in the power of doing good. No act of respect for the human dignity of another human being will ever be lost. We must view all the good we do to the times of our childhood when we would flip little stones into calm, still water and there would be ripples that would flow out from the place where the stone was dropped into the water. The ripples of goodness all flow into eternal life.
I hold the American nation in my prayer. They are so divided and angry. They are coping with the change of their demographics very poorly, but they are our neighbors! And they are hurting! I bring these people in prayer that God may give direction and a desire to work for healing. To use a very biblical image, may they cast aside their guns and ugly slogans and may they pick up hoes and rakes and grow food for each other!
It is still a very tough week for the world and for Canada. May goodness arise from the ashes of this very evil week!
No comments:
Post a Comment