We see through a glass dimly, particularly when it comes to Jesus heart for healing a broken, disoriented, divided and angry world. Politics divide. Religion divides. Race divides. So how do we be vessels of healing to a world who has seen so many tears? We know the world ain’t right so we want to move closer to peace. On every corner of the world are refugees, violence, struggle, injustice. So how? Is reconciliation just pulling the wool over our eyes to say it possibly can’t be done? But can we find perhaps some of the answers together, even though there is no easy one?
Racial reconciliation is not simple, or rarely turns out fairytale and they lived happily ever after. It’s a consistent journey. A long road. Layers of wounds. We have a history. Bloodshed. Prejudice. Enslavement. Segregation. Trickery. Betrayal. Stealing land. Teaching our children to not associate. Of course, we are not totally blind when it comes to the unending (it seems) monsterous challenge of repairing the breach, restoring the walls torn down of ancient ruins in endless nations and hearts!
Although as we dare to step through this beautiful and messy mosaic of the process of reconciliation, we begin to see God in His fullness of the shimmering diamondlit rainbow colors He shines with unity in diversity. And we have the privilege to journey through it. So we chose to step into the unfolding story. We swim through the messy array of colors that don’t always seem to make sense but as unity glares at us through the stained glass we will find it so worth it as we follow our Reconciler! We will find with amazement and apprehension those different than us have a beautiful voice deserving to be heard, with those who maybe we fear are not so scary after all, even to face possibly with a hint of forgiveness even our own dark enemies who have hurt us deeply. We may be freeing ourselves too!
What does it mean to walk this road? How do we do this? Do I qualify to take the role as a ambassador of reconciliation? And when we get stuck, where do we turn? These questions we can answer together as we share our stories.
We realize it is He that is the Ultimate Reconciler and He uses imperfect people to unfold His plan and it is so on His heart to heal, restore, unify, and free. He will do it. It is not easy, or a quick fix. But He will receive the reward of His sufferings for love, unity, healing of His children and calling to all nations undefined or defined to find Him and fellowship with our brothers who were once called enemies. He has broken down the dividing walls.
Together on this road less travelled, we will find it is so worth it to trudge forth the messiness and pain, and discover a bit of the beauty growing up out of ashes with Him. We will discover the restoration of the ancient ruins once torn down from war, hatred, racism, and mistrust. While we often feel tangled and maybe frozen in fear to take the first step to go there, perfect Love and our Perfect Example leads us on. Yes, this road is often arduous and quite long and often time holds many obstacles, setbacks, stubborness, frustration, and roadblocks but that did not stop our King from the cross. We choose to move step by step. We heed the call of our Beloved.
He who brings hope, dignity, restoration, rebuilding, and healing to nations. The call of the reconciler is so the essence of our call to the Ultimate Reconciler, our Precious Lord Jesus Christ. A humble yet powerful Man who walked on this earth and brought together and called people to follow him from every background, religion, race, creed. And He calls us to do the same or greater works than Him.
What stories do you have? Where can you start the conversation with people you love and those you find hard to love? Where can we bridge gaps? Where can we minister reconciliation in our broken communities a broken world. It starts with you it starts with me. Confessing the lament and pain, looking to hope for healing in a Savior. What testimonies do you have of faith in action? Or heard recently? How can we abolish racism, division, hatred, violence, bloodshed, war? Let’s follow a man of beauty, mystery, divinity, hope, that crossed every barrier and gave His life to do it. And He calls us to give ours. This is my quest. To learn more of you as reconcilers out there fighting the good fight. So try to post your stories too here. We can be the first to deal with it, to mediate and be bold about it. This quote from the course I’m taking by Kristina spoke to me a lot,” “I chose to define conflict (in the first week’s teaching) as an everyday occurrence, an inevitable part of life, as an opportunity for growth. That is, if we start off treating all conflict as abnormal, as a sign of failure, weakness, or other personal flaw, then every occasion of conflict becomes a case for berating ourselves and others. And we are not going to do that. Instead, I suggest that we frame conflicts as opportunities to learn and grow. Emphasis is on a culture of grace, a lifestyle of reconciliation.”(Kristyn Kuroki, ” How we view conflicts and handle them”).
Here we stand on the precipice of wanting to be a reconciler of nations, looking down, wanting to fly, but often feeling like we are on a tightrope across this cliff, or a zip line taking me to the unknown. I’m not even sure if I have it down on my own family and friends sometimes, but to go without looking back. I jump anyway. And you can too and share your stories. We can learn together of how our Jesus wants us to walk. He desires us to throw off our binding religion, our prejudices, smashing our own culture boundaries at times, to embrace others and fully hear their stories and love their diversity. We love who God made us to be in His identity but are free to understand and love others in our beautiful rich diverse unity in Christ. This is a epic journey and I’d love to learn from you. I’d love to post those things that moved me to move forward. Let’s dive in!
Site Title 