In It Together

I talk to a lot of people who are deeply worried about the future of our world. With climate change no longer a theory but a reality, the cost of living going up faster than wages, and a political landscape that echoes all kinds of dystopian novels, I understand the fear. Sometimes I want to yell into what feels like a void: “WE HAVE WORKED TOO HARD AT BEING FAITHFUL FOR THE WORLD TO BE THIS MESSED UP!”

This is why the story of Job feels so familiar. He lived a faithful life and still ended up with a season full of grave misfortune. He too yelled into what felt like a void: “oh that I had one to hear me! . . . Let the Almighty answer me!” (Job 31:35). The reality is that righteous living doesn’t always yield the results we want. (Need a song to listen to about that? Try this one.)

This world is full of good people of all cultures, continents, and religions - and yet we find ourselves astounded daily at how easily the world breaks. We see hungry and thirsty people and we feed them - but there is still a drought induced famine in South Sudan. We see strangers and welcome them in - but refugees and immigrants are still dangerously maligned on the national stage. We try every day to be the sheep of Matthew 25 and yet folx still suffer. Sometimes those people are us.

Last month the Being Well podcast aired an episode titled “Living in an Anxious World.” In that episode they discussed how we might respond to the anxiety that living in this world induces. One of the key ways is taking agency over our responses. If we are worried about climate change, for example, we can change our consumerism habits. If we are worried about violence between religious groups, we can start to build friendships with people who practice other religions. Essentially: we can take action where we are able. We are not only victims to the struggles of this world. And when we take action we become empowered to live more grounded lives.

As we walk through this next month of vitriol, uncertainty, and division in our country alongside whatever is going on in our own families and on the world stage, let us keep in mind Paul’s teaching to the Philippian church:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:4-7).

We are not helpless. We can act through praise and prayer, trusting that by acting in this way our anxious hearts might calm as we come into God’s presence. And when our hearts and minds calm we will see what our next steps ought to be.

God has not called us to follow without giving us the Spirit to strengthen us on the journey.

Blessings,

Pastor Amy

“The supreme religious challenge…is to see God’s image in one who is not our image.” Jonathan Sacks, The Dignity of Difference, rev. Ed. (London: Continuum, 2003), 60.