It starts with a simple, basic disagreement. Next, add a half a tablespoon of stubbornness. Pour in a quarter cup of self-righteousness. A half-cup of ego. Aggressive words, accusations, stereotypes – all of these, you add to taste. Before you know it, voila! A crabby brew becomes a cesspool of bitterness, negativity and unforgiveness. The casualties are those who feast on this, causing severe heartburn and agony of soul. Friendships, distrust, damaged faith are the lingering after-effects or, to put it in a most unhelpful way, collateral damage.

In these dark, uncivil times, the way of us who claim the name Christian is treacherous, to say the least. We feel like Miss Gale, the cowardly lion, the tin man and scarecrow trying to navigate their way to Oz. The journey to be a person of faith trying to embody forgiveness is laden with conflict and difference of opinion. All our personal tenets, ditches to die in and core values are added to the pot. The wooden handle stirring it all creaks and cracks under the strain. We despair because we feel helpless or worse, unwilling to accept that we might be wrong, that we need to change our outlook. Even to just listen to the opposing outlook. Forgiveness costs us something, and yet it is free. We cannot fully grasp that paradox. How can we let peace permeate us enough to rise above the fray and live sacramentally – and sacrificially? Such a challenge, it is. How can we be reconciled and then healing in our relationships?

It was eighty years ago this week that Kristallnacht, the tragedy that began the Holocaust happened. It was one hundred years ago that WWI was concluded. Our sins of hatred, violent aggression and intolerance continue unabated throughout God’s created earth. But you know what else continues unabated? God’s unconditional love for us which extends even, yes even, to our enemies and those we vehemently are at odds with. We need not be casualties, victims. May we “stir the pot,” adding in the sweet spices of forgiveness, love and mercy.

Bon appetit.

Originally posted by Pastor Art in November 2018