November
has been a heart wrenching month for this country. It began with heightened
political rhetoric, rancor, and divisiveness as we approached the election.
Many were looking forward to after the election when this divisiveness would
subside. Unfortunately, it only got worse. While I was saddened by the tone of
the political campaigns and the ugliness of many supporters of both of these
candidates, I’m absolutely heart-broken over the aftermath and response to the
elections. That’s not a partisan statement. It’s not a comment on the result of
the election itself. I am speaking to our response as a country to the election
results and the darkness of hatred that has intensified in our land.
Many have used this election as
perceived permission to act upon the hate they feel is justified, although the
President-elect in a 60 Minutes interview told perpetrators to, “Stop it.” Between
Wednesday, November 9, the day after the presidential election, and the morning
of Monday, November 14, the Southern Poverty Law Center collected 437 reports
of hateful intimidation and harassment. That’s just in 5 days. That’s just what
was reported. The stories of hatred, racism, and xenophobia are horrendous. Swastikas
painted in Jewish neighborhoods. “Trump Nation Whites Only” written on a banner
outside an Episcopal church that held a Latino worship service. “Kill Blacks” scrawled
on an elementary school wall. Trump supporters beaten by protestors. Elementary
school kids chanting, “Build that wall” to their weeping Latino classmates. A
friend of mine’s adopted daughter from Guatemala asking her mom if she was
going to be deported because of comments made at school. The stories go on and
on and on.
Lest I think I need not worry
about this hatred invading Virginia Beach, a local pastor shared with me that a childcare worker stopped into
the 7-11 a mile from the church I serve to pick up cold medicine the week after the
elections. In the store, a man berated her with racist slurs and hate filled
sentiments until he was finally escorted out of the store. She was
understandably left shaken and scared. Virginia Beach is not exempt from the
darkness of hatred permeating this country.
The Vision Statement at the church I serve says we are “Sent
to Grow, Shine, and Love.” In the midst of the hatred, the darkness, the racism
that has been unleashed in the public realm since the elections, will you
shine Christ’s light? Will you choose to follow God's command to "do
justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God?” As the prophet Amos
proclaimed, our call is to "hate evil, love good, and establish justice at
the city gate." Our neighbors are hurting, fearful, and uncertain. How do
we love our neighbors as ourselves? As the poet and activist Alice Walker asked
in the wake of the election, "Do we turn on others, or towards
others?" I believe turning towards one another in love is the calling of
our faith, the calling of Jesus.
As I drag out the ladder with an entangled mass of wire and bulbs, and nail by nail outline my house this year, I look forward to a little more light in my neighborhood and a little less darkness. My prayer for this Advent season is to ask for guidance in how I can shine Christ’s light a little brighter, because darkness and light cannot coexist. How can I love a little more visibly? How can I reach out a little farther? How can I combat the hate with love? Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” May each of us drive out hate with love. May each of us drive out darkness by shining the light of Christ. And even more than seasonal Christmas lights, Christ’s light will bring lasting and much needed comfort, serenity, and peace.
As I drag out the ladder with an entangled mass of wire and bulbs, and nail by nail outline my house this year, I look forward to a little more light in my neighborhood and a little less darkness. My prayer for this Advent season is to ask for guidance in how I can shine Christ’s light a little brighter, because darkness and light cannot coexist. How can I love a little more visibly? How can I reach out a little farther? How can I combat the hate with love? Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” May each of us drive out hate with love. May each of us drive out darkness by shining the light of Christ. And even more than seasonal Christmas lights, Christ’s light will bring lasting and much needed comfort, serenity, and peace.
