Hold on Tightly

This morning I read in the Washington Post:

"The United States has an undercurrent of political violence, and periodically for different reasons it bubbles to the top and explodes into riots, insurrections, succession, assassinations and assassination attempts,” said Barbara Perry, a professor at the University of Virginia who directs the presidential oral-history program. This year, she said, “I think this undercurrent has now become the current. Right now it’s at the surface, and it’s rushing along. We’re in a white-water rapids.”

Yikes. It does feel like we're in the rapids.

After attempts on Donald Trump's life, and calls on social media for Kamala Harris' murder, not to mention the (not so) veiled threats of violence by various politicians and public figures... it's a scary time. Our country appears so very divided, with folks who plan to vote for each presidential candidate feeling that the other is a real and present danger to the survival of our nation. When the stakes are so high, no wonder anger, fear and violence run strong and hot. What are Christians to do as we ride these white-water rapids?

Let us hold tightly to our values and traditions. We are hearing them this fall from Mark's Gospel: again and again Jesus offers healing and welcome to those who are suffering, excluded, hungry or powerless. Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all. Don't be afraid. Give your money to the poor. Whenever you pray, forgive. Love your neighbor as yourself.

When we get swept up in the rapids of anger and fear, may we seek to ground ourselves in the love and compassion of Jesus. To be clear, this doesn't mean tolerating lies, hatred, violent speech or dehumanizing language - it means that we root our actions in love and hope. (And we vote!)