Who are we?

“O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. “ 

BCP pg. 815 

It is a beautiful, calm and peaceful day here in Sanbornville.  The sky is clear and the breeze is warm.  For today the humidity is gone and a gentle October breeze has taken its place.  Earlier this afternoon, I stood in the middle of our labyrinth.  My gaze faced the direction of the stone cross that looks over our property.  Gratitude was the overwhelming feeling that came over me.  Gratitude for this day, for the life I am able to enjoy this day, and for the ground on which I stood.   

As I was aware of the peace and gratitude, I was also forced to remember those that struggle in body, mind or spirit.  Those that struggle to feel as though they are loved, as though they belong, as though they have value.   We are a meaning making people. How or why does it matter that there are those in our midst that suffer?   

It matters to me because I believe that as a child of God, I am part of something far larger than myself.  As a child of God I am connected to “the other”.  As a child of God, I am called into relationship to the world around me.  The theology here is sound and good, but the implementation of this is far more difficult.  How we live, love and care for each other is much more of a challenge than most of us care to admit.   

There is an old saying, that “God isn’t done with me yet.”  It is my belief that this is true of all of us, but it is surly true for me.   What would it be like if the whole ‘being in relationship with God, following Jesus thing’; came with a warning label?  I suppose that wouldn’t be great evangelism.  But in current vernacular, it would be a transparent or honest label.  Why, you say?  Because it is not easy.  Because we are human and long for safety, security and love.  Why, you say?  Because we will make mistakes, we will hurt others, and we will be hurt.  Why you say?  Because we will be loved beyond our wildest imagination, and we will love in return.  

Who are we?  The election this year is one that causes many of us, from all directions and beliefs to feel tired, worn and weary.  For many, anger surges right under the surface.  At other times, there is a feeling of malaise or overwhelming heaviness.  Why is this so hard?   

“Paul Tillich described faith as the way in which we order our priorities.  He said that faith is an expression our “ultimate concern.”  We may have many interests, but we can only have one ultimate concern, which means that the question for religious people is whether our lives are centered in God or in something else.” 

This is a quote from John Danforth's new book:“The Relevance of Religion, How Faithful People can change Politics”.  It has taken many years for me to clarify how I order my priorities.  I in no way claim to do it perfectly, but I do know that with Gods love as my guiding principle, my life continues to reorder itself.  It has become overwhelmingly clear to me that we are born to live in community.    We are created and are formed by and with the "other".  Why do we care?  

We care because if we are present to the world around us, if we love those in our midst, if we live and grow and move in the world with God as our guiding principle, we feel deeply.  We feel deeply for those we agree with.  We feel deeply for those who don't see life the way we do.  We care deeply about the children, the future.  If we read and pray with God as our guiding principle, we know that never has there been a time when all powers and people agreed on how to approach the challenges of our world. 

As we continue to live in the world, let us remember that we are called to action as well as prayer.  We are called to vote, yes.  But when this election is over, regardless of who wins, that is when the work really begins.  We are living in a time when the gap between those with much and those with little is larger than ever.  We live in a time when we seem to scared and angry to listen to each other.  We live in a time when those of us that can have those hard and important discussions, must model that.  The Episcopal Church has a central theme called, via media, the middle way.  We live in the tension that compromise is a central tenant to relationship.  

Who are we?  We are beloved children of God.  We are all broken, wonderful, creative, individual beings.  We all come from a story like no one else.  God created us in God's image.  We are called to, in the midst of this time of confusion, anger and fear to remember that God is with us, always.  

Who are we?  We are a people that care deeply about our world.  We care about all of God's creation.  That is the harder way.  It is hard to look there.  But it is ultimately harder not to.  

Who are we?  I have come to know yet, again, that I am a person, whose life is centered around the love and blessing of God.  Who are you?