Minister's Musings

Beyond Sunday: “What Next?”

“People generally suppose that they don’t understand one another very well, and that is true; they don’t. But some things they communicate easily and fully. Anger and contempt and hatred leap from one heart to another like fire in dry grass. The revelations of love are never complete or clear, not in this world. Love is slow and accumulating, and no matter how large or high it grows, it falls short. Love comprehends the world, though we don’t comprehend it. But hate comes off in slices, clear and whole — self-explanatory, you might say. You can hate people completely and kill them in an instant.” ~Wendell Berry, in Jayber Crow

Friends,

There has been an increase in acrimony and hatred in our world. New wars are breaking out. New conflicts over resources are festering. Its rough out there. War and hatred are deadly and fast and destructive. Love takes time. I think Wendell Berry has the right of it: “Love is slow and accumulating…”

Peace takes continued effort. Upkeep is required. Dedication to the purpose is necessary. But what do we do with our former (or even current) adversaries? How do we deal with people who have wanted our death? How do they deal with us? The reality is that every single person, all the time, has a part to play. Every generation has conflict, just as every relationship between people has conflict. And conflict is necessary and predictable in a complicated world. How we deal with it is the key. This week we will look into the story of Paul and his “Damascus Road” experience. Especially we will learn from Ananias, who had to care for and help a former adversary.

In peace and hope, Rev. Kirsty