The ongoing rhetoric in the media, most especially today, is how divided we are as a country. In my lifetime, I can't remember such large division on all kinds of levels. There is almost something puffed up about it - weirdly proud. Our personal divisiveness somehow makes us smarter and better than the naive peacemaker. We gloat in it even as much as we find seemingly moral disdain for it.
But, what if we aren't as divided as what we are being told we are? What if we have fallen prey to the loud speakers? What if one of satan's oldest tricks is working better now than ever before? Lie. Divide. Lie. Conquer. There is some truth to behaving how people view us. Tell us how divided we are 365 days a year, highlight those divisions, pay homage to them, cry evil while greedily stirring the pot, and wha-lah. We have mistrust, confusion, woundedness, MISCOMMUNICATION, anger, and even hatred. All, for what?
Robert Shaw wrote a book called, Created for Significance: Discovering Who Defines Us and How We Obtain our Significance. In it, he talks about how each of us, regardless of culture, ethnicity, age, or gender, have six core longings. They are: love, safety, understanding, belonging, purpose, and significance. I wonder what would happen if we were to randomly pick out 50 people from throughout the United States today and put them in a room together? What if we simply went around the room and shared who we were, where we came from, something that gave us joy, and something we felt concerned about? From there, let's say the groups broke up into ten groups of five and at those tables they had to discuss 7 significant ways they differed from one another. After all of those significant differences were mentioned to the whole group and written down, the next exercise would be to discuss 7 significant things the tables had in common. Again, those would be shared to the whole group and written down. The last exercise would be to talk about 7 significant ways they understood, related to, and/or connected to one another. This would be different than having something in common. We can hold something in common with someone and still not connect. Yes, I'm such a nerd. These are things I think about. But, imagine with me what this might look like. I actually picture a fair amount of harmony. Yet, imagine these same people communicating while hiding behind a screen and keyboard and not in person. I have a feeling there wouldn't be much harmony because we'd be too stuck on the differences and subsequent insults to get to the similarities. That would be despite the fact that at our core, we were quite the same. But, who has time for that.
My job has been good for me in the sense that it has opened my eyes and heart from the all white, suburban, mostly Dutch and Christian background I grew up in to (real) life. I now sit with women of all different religions and practices. I hear stories of profound trauma and abuse. I learn about different races and cultures. I learn about different family systems. I learn about transgender lifestyles. I hear funny stories and tragic stories. I see all kinds of unique talent and intelligence. I see different levels of functioning. I'm inspired by vulnerability, authenticity and bravery like I've never seen before. Forget Republican and Democrat. It is a colorful group VASTLY different than not just me, but from each other. And, in those walls there is an acceptance and grace not readily seen on the outside.
For reasons I'm not going to explain at the moment, I have been without a TV for 6 months and I surprisingly haven't missed it. Once in a while I'll be somewhere where a TV is on and the incessant fear inducing chatter feels like nails on a chalkboard to me; like an assault on my spirit. For real. I have been BLISSFULLY ignorant of a lot and I have no regrets about it. But, that is me and I certainly wouldn't suggest that it should be for you. I have a lot of quiet and solitude and that seems to suit who I am. It also enables me to work in a job where I have to be "on" and where crisis management is frequent. So, when I watched about 5 minutes of live election coverage from my phone this morning and REPEATEDLY heard the United States described as divided, it got me thinking about some of the things I've written. I even did a search in scripture about it.
I do not always like The Message translation of scripture but I did for this particular passage written by Paul and found in 1 Corinthians 9: 19-23 "Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized - whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearing in Christ - but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in it."
It is GOOD to come alongside people where they are at. Really, haven't you found that when you come alongside someone, especially someone who is vastly different than you, that you actually find more in common than you ever imagined? I see people under immense pressure, tripping because of pain, and pointing angry fingers without even remotely understanding WHY. We make it about abortion, race, religion, immigration, political party and so forth, but is it, really? Don't get me wrong. Those are hot buttons and important, but the rage? Throwing stones? Ending friendships? Sanctimonious high horses? We would do well to consider our own words and actions. We don't go home and kick the dog because the dog is bad. We go home and kick the dog because WE feel badly. And, that's the key. What is making us feel badly? And, what is keeping us, especially followers of Jesus, from being the kind of person Paul is talking about? That's not on "them." That is on us. Shoot, but it is.
Whose world do we need to enter? Who is it that we need to seek to understand? Or, WHAT is it? I really don't believe for a second that we are all that divided. On the surface, maybe. But, underneath? Not so much. So, choose not to be divisive. I love the word "servant" used in the above scripture. What a great image that word brings to mind. How can we be a servant? How can we reach a wide range of people? It most certainly will not be with our self-righteous opinions. It will be by coming alongside people in a real and human way, with humility and love.
John 13:35 says, "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." The world is watching. We can do this.
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