Thursday, November 17, 2016

Shining Light in the Darkness


            As a child, I knew Christmas was just around the corner when my dad dragged out the ladder with an entangled mass of wire and bulbs, and nail by nail outlined our two story house with Christmas lights. Christmas lights are so beautiful whether hung outside on the edges of roofs or around a Christmas tree. In the darkest of nights, those lights provide comfort, serenity, and peace. More than ever, I’m looking forward to hanging up my Christmas lights this year. More than ever, I need a little more comfort, serenity, and peace.
            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.


Tuesday, January 5, 2016

The Work of Christmas

For many of us, Christmas is now long gone. Kids are back in school. Work has resumed. The routine has cranked back up. And we are now planning another year. But the Christmas season (the 12 days of Christmas) actually lasts until tomorrow, January 6, when we celebrate Epiphany. Epiphany reminds us about the wisemen who followed a star to worship the newborn King. But what happens after Epiphany? What lasting impact does Christmas have on us the rest of the year?

I am reminded of a wonderful poem by theologian Howard Thurman. This time of the year I lift up this poem as a way to celebrate and live Christmas the whole year through. May we each engage in the work of Christmas every day.