the way

“When politicians start talking about large groups of their fellow Americans as 'enemies,' it's time for a quiet stir of alertness. Polarizing people is a good way to win an election, and also a good way to wreck a country.”

                     Molly Ivins

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We live in a polarized world

With live in a world

Where divisions are purposefully nurtured

The polarities are many

Liberal and conservative

Black and white

Rich and poor

Privileged and vulnerable

Progressive Christian and Evangelical Christian

But is seems to me that there is one profound polarity

From which comes many others

This is the polarity between people who

Are “me” people,

versus those we are “we” people

The polarity between those who believe we are put here

To help each other

And those who scream “socialism” (something few of them understand)

As if it were a dirty word.

This polarity has many facets

It is about choosing the way of domination and control

And choosing the way of humility and service

How one thinks about everything is determined by this one polarity

Ones’ religion

One’s sexuality

One’s relationship to money

And power

All is profoundly impacted by whether one is engrossed in essential selfishness

Or essential generosity

The way of selfishness has many so called fruits

Isolationism

Economic Inequity

Injustice

Racism

Fear (after all, I must be afraid of those who might take something that is mine, or that I think is mine)

But the way of selfishness creates deep wounds

It creates apathy, robbing us of empathy

It creates cruelty

It smiles with glee over a photo opportunity

While standing next to a baby whose parents have both been killed by a racists

It seizes and deports people who are contributing our society

While leaving stunned children with our parents

This way shreds community

And leaves it in tatters

Leaving a few with much

And many with little

But then there is the other end of this pole

The way of generosity and service

Some look at this way of being

And consider its adherents as weak

There is nothing weak about being empathetic

Nothing week about giving up some of what you have for others

Nothing weak about standing up for the vulnerable,

Nothing weak about resisting those in power

Nothing weak about saying what you believe

Putting your time and money on the line

Nothing weak about talking out

Caring is risking

Costly

Sometimes dangerous

Which is why Jesus likened it to “taking up a cross” and following him

For that is the Jesus way

The way of generosity and compassion

It too has fruits

Community

Healthcare for all

Inclusion

Acceptance

This way makes us kind….

It feeds the hungry

Houses the homeless

Provides clothing for the marginalized

Welcomes the immigrant

This way welcomes all into the church

All to the table

All

There are politicians out there, calling us to essential selfishness

They are people, profoundly afraid of this radical way

But it is

Like it or no

The way of Jesus

And it reflects God’s paradoxical kind of power

And power expressed

In service and love