Keeping the faith

Jesus Christ was the perfect example of speaking and acting in ways that built up those around him.

His final hours on the cross exemplified how he lived his life. To the soldiers he said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” He interceded on behalf of the soldiers who did not understand who they were crucifying (Luke 23:34).

To his mother He said, “Woman, behold thy son!” and to his disciple, “Behold thy mother.” This ensured that his disciple, John, would care for his mother after He had died (John 19:26-27).

To the thief He said, “today thou shalt be with me in paradise.” This gave the thief an assurance that God still loved him despite his transgressions (Luke 23:43).

On the other hand, Satan is the master of accusations and discouragement. The scriptures call him the “accuser of our brethren” (Revelation 12:10). He wants us to be filled with doubt, fear and despair. He attacks, belittles and discourages. He wants to rob our faith and hope in Christ.

Christ is the architect and builder of our souls. Contention is the master of demolition and destruction.

Who do we follow as our master and exemplar? Do we lift and build those around us through kind and encouraging words or do we instead belittle and criticize?

We will be happier as individuals, couples, families, communities, and nations if we follow the example of our Savior in speaking and acting in ways that build others. There is too much hostility in the world — too much contention, attacking, criticizing, and blaming.

There is a beautiful hymn called “Let Us Oft Speak Kind Words” that exemplifies this:

“Let us oft speak kind words to each other

“At home or where’er we may be;

“They’ll gladden the heart that’s repining,

“Give courage and hope from above,

“And where the dark clouds hide the shining,

“Let in the bright sunlight of love.

“Oh, the kind words we give shall in memory live

“And sunshine forever impart.

“Let us oft speak kind words to each other;

“Kind words are sweet tones of the heart.”

Kind words build up those around us and replace discouragement with hope and faith. Let us apply the saying, “The tongue has no bones, but is strong enough to to break a heart. So be careful with your words” (Unknown).

Christ taught this principle beautifully when he said, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12), and also when He said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40).

Let us commit to be more like Christ in how we speak and act to others. Then shall our peace be as “a river, and (our) righteousness as the waves of the sea” (Isaiah 48:18).

Photos: Sunshine Mile (Broadway) in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sheltering at home has been retirement at its worst. I read. I walk. I pray. I watch the news. I participate in endless Zoom meetings. I putz around, cleaning out over-cluttered desk drawers. Days pass one after another, and I lose track of time. Like all of us, I socially distance myself, avoid going out much, except for groceries. I too fear the virus no one can see. My life is on hold. But I dare not keep myself apart, like a rock that feels and senses nothing, that understands no one’s pain but that sits and does nothing, unaware of the suffering all around.

The world has been brought to its knees by COVID-19. People’s lives have been massively disrupted. Businesses shut down. Hospital emergency rooms filled beyond capacity. Churches shuttered. Overnight, people in our country lost their jobs and people panicked, worried how they were going to pay rent or feed their families. Loved ones died. The tragic stories deeply upset and cry out for action.

But what action? I am one of those people considered most vulnerable at this time, an adult over 65, actually 78 years old. For sure I can pray like Moses with his arms held up pleading with God to spare his people. And I can call those on the front lines to encourage people and to thank them, but those actions seem so little in a time of profound need. It is better for me to speak up.

It saddens me that we are a nation still so polarized even while in the throes of COVID-19, a virus that does not distinguish between rich and poor, race or ethnicity, people in Iran, Russia or the United States. Still, we manage to hang on to harsh divides among ourselves.

Some cry, “Open up!” Others warn, “Stay shut!” Some uphold the president’s actions and applaud his leadership. Others condemn a haphazard, careless, and disorganized approach that has risked the lives of so many.

Some say “America first,” that we need be concerned about our own people, our needs and struggles. Others agree, but add the United States needs to be concerned and supportive of poorer nations as well. We need to appropriate funding to assist the poorest of the world, not only ourselves. It seems the lens through which we view this crisis, like we do so many things, is red or blue. We take sides and hurl barbs at the other side.

Stop! Coronavirus is not about politics. It is about human life, precious life under a terrible threat. Over 100,000 people have died in our country alone, more than 350,000 worldwide. Stop! Put down partisan politics that divides and puts us at odds with one another instead of binding us together. Stop! News networks offering completely different narratives, further dividing their listeners from one another.

We will disagree. After all, there are no easy or simple answers to this or any crisis. Much remains mysterious.

Yet disagreement need not divide us. Rather, as Pope Francis encouraged us when he visited our country, we need “to confront every form of polarization which would divide (us) into two camps.”

The pope encourages us to listen deeply to one another, to get beneath stances to look for common values and principles that can guide our efforts to address issues.

These days I cannot do much, but I can speak out and call all of us to realize we belong to one family and to remind us to put aside that which divides us. Start listening and understanding the “other” side that think, act or feel differently than we do.

Photos: Sunshine Mile (Broadway) in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Monday, May 25, 2020. The internet exploded with a viral video of an African American man lying on the ground, hands cuffed behind his back, a police officer with his knee on his neck, and the man saying “I can’t breathe.” I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. This man was begging for his life, and the man killing him looked as though it really didn’t matter. Worse yet, three other police officers not only witnessed the killing but did nothing to preserve the life of another human being. He cried for his mother and I heard Mr. Floyd say “I’m through.” He probably knew that he would die on that street. What an image. As the nation awakened to the horror, people all over the country began to protest. Please understand that no pastor condones the rioting and looting that accompanied the protests, and neither does the family of Mr. George Floyd. This tragedy ripped the bandage off a wound not yet healed. Our nation is increasingly divided, racism is still an issue. Today, Jesus tells us a parable (Luke 10:30-37) that addresses the issue of how to treat people. Parables are stories (that the hearer would understand) that reveal a previously hidden mystery of the kingdom of God. In this parable, a man was robbed and left half-dead by the roadside.

The Religious Rejection

The first to pass by was a priest. He was the religious representative. He ministered to God and served the people. It was his job to share the word of God with the people and to explain God’s principles to man. He should have been concerned. Maybe he was afraid, maybe he didn’t want to get involved. Maybe he just did not care. The Apostle John says that love is of God and God is love, yet the representative of God did not demonstrate love. Today the people of God cannot remain silent when we see evil. When we see injustice, when we see inhumanity, we must speak up.

The Family Failure

The man was Jewish. Jesus makes sure that the hearers understand the ethnicity of the man. He is Jewish. Jesus is making a point. The first passerby neglected his religious obligation to be concerned about his brother. The second was a Levite. This man should have been concerned because of his relationship. The tragedy that has plagued this nation for hundreds of years is (from my perspective getting worse). It is not just a racial problem anymore, it is a crisis. Like the priest and the Levite, far too many are content to watch injustice and refuse to get involved. The church should be on the front line, fighting for justice, fighting for equality, fighting for humanity.

Finally

Jesus used a Samaritan (the most despised type of person to Jews). He intervened, helped the man, and took responsibility for the man. The church, the people of God, must see every man regardless of race, religion or creed as our neighbor. We are all part of the same race, the human race. After the funeral, after the protests, remember I’m still your neighbor.

Photos: Sunshine Mile (Broadway) in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson

Sunshine Mile in Tucson