10/11/2023
This is a rough and scary time for many people. I have resources that many do not, and it is a rough and scary time for me as well.
The headlines scream the doom of fear porn in an inexhaustible supply. And we are tired. It has been more than a decade of mass produced panic as our mainstream media has gone into a midlife crisis, and now only cares about selling papers in a crowded marketplace — where they are now being crowded out with independent sources who often (not always, but often) are more agile, more nimble and faster that the media dinosaurs in getting the truth out.
There are also the bad actors out there, who are trying to capitalize on the confusion as to what may or may not be true by delivering outright falsehoods to us. It helps matters nothing that sometimes these bad actors are reporting in collusion with government or other “approved” information sources.
We, as a people are traumatized. The Ferguson riots, which birthed the BLM were almost 10 years ago — and there hasn’t been much progress. COVID introduced the complete cessation of “normal” in America and around the world as entire societies, economies, and governments cowered before something it did not understand, and made a mess.
While we were locked in our houses binging Netflix, the news media found a golden goose in keeping us afraid. Each and every trivial thing happening around the planet was suddenly the “worst” of it’s kind — ever. In all the confusion, a wild card NYer wound up as President, and whatever you think of the man personally, the media and one side of the political machine went into overdrive destruction mode, which seems to be the norm now, for both sides.
And with the Middle East in meltdown — yet again, we are tossed lies and opinions to beat us into a war footing for “Armageddon” since Ukraine didn’t catch on like the powers angling for war would have liked.
Many people take comfort in the church. God is supposed to be "an ever-present comfort" in times such as these. Unfortunately, many pastors and priests have jumped on the bandwagon of dividing rather than uniting, and are in the front-lines of destruction rather than being a salve and a place of refuge to people who are afraid and have no idea who to trust anymore.
So, what to do?
I address mostly Christians here, and the teachings of Jesus, as well as the commission of Jesus (not the "Great Commission" - which miraculously appeared long after Jesus left the planet), give us a clear plan.
Jesus taught us that the best way to honor God is to treat all with love and respect. We go to my touchstone for this, and we realize that this was how Jesus summarized his entire mission. If we practice this as a way of life, to the best of our ability, God has no problem with us. It is the most general instruction that promises the best possible result. Treating others with kindness builds on itself just as quickly as treating others like crap.
But, but, but, but!!!!!! No Buts. The instruction that Jesus gave us was to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. To treat them in the manner with which we would like to be treated. Our neighbor is the next person we interact with. We deal with the world by dealing with the next person we come in contact with.
But the world is on fire!!! What good will being nice at the Starbucks do? That person in line with you, and the barista - they are as frightened and angry as you are. Their anger and fear might come from a completely different place and perspective, but they are feeling it as well. How does kindness sent in that person's direction harm you in any way? It doesn't. Even if the person snaps at you angrily.
I know this because I have been on both ends of it. On a good day, I really appreciate the kindness and tend to pay it forward. On a bad day - when I snap at the person being kind (it happens, I am as human as anyone else), I tend to feel bad about being an a-hole. Even if there is no opportunity to apologize directly, I tend to keep my bad mood in check after that just because I realize the person showing me kindness was not deserving of my anger.
It is not a quick solution, but it is not burdensome. And Jesus did not give us a pass on it because the world is falling apart. It was in his day too. Perhaps it always is falling apart, and the key to it not dragging us down with it is to be kind. Kindness, in its pure form, is more contagious than COVID ever will be.
You are being immersed in a situation where hatred is ruling the day. Where our desire for fairness and truth are being assaulted daily by liars trying to twist your good and kind nature into supporting their side in battle. In worldview, in politics, and even from some pulpits. Don't do it. Truth is hard to find in the web of lies that we are being fed. Kindness disarms lies and reinforces truth.
Should you be silent? No. Your fear and your anger should be answered to. But by the people actually causing it. Write and email the people who are responsible. If you have an audience, hold the feet of those responsible to the fire. Most of them serve at our will. They will back down when their alternative is losing having their hand in the cookie jar. The other person in line at Starbucks is no more responsible for the mess we find ourselves in than you are. Being a jerk to someone innocent feeds the hatred. Being kind feeds the love.
Jesus never called on you, personally, as an individual, to save the world. It is why He showed up. He knows that 99.97% of the people living here are not capable of changing anything outside of their own circle. When we call on our circle to behave better, to treat others - even those we see as enemies, with kindness, it spreads the best on humankind and confuses the hell out of the badguys.
This is a simple thing to ask, but not an easy thing to do. This is why Jesus centered his instructions for our human life around this concept. You need to consciously do it, but it is very effective for changing attitudes. And it is a method that pleases God.
I hope that you will consider it.
In Peace, Faith and Love
Ecc. RL Brandner, New Ecclesiastes Ministries
Be careful here. Don't inject your take on politics and government into the great message you have been sharing about religion and loving one another. You cannot be the voice of wisdom on all fronts, choose carefully or perhaps start a separate stream.
Seems to me the "love one another" message is the answer for a divided world - but it is a message for everyone, not just people who see politics and world affairs through your lenses.