Years ago I watched with disbelief, dismay and great sorrow as the Christian denomination and later the local church I had called home from childhood were being torn apart from within.   Now I watch with the same disbelief, dismay and sorrow as the same thing is happening to our country.

Once again, I find my soul crying out what is going on, how is this happening?  How are years of painstaking baby steps toward justice and racial harmony falling apart before my eyes?  Is this nation of immigrants really talking about keeping immigrants out — even going so far as to build a wall?  Can it really be that some pastors are encouraging parishioners to arm themselves, even offering classes to qualify for concealed carry permits?  Are we really accepting fear, hatred and armed citizens as “just the way things are?”  And how on earth can anyone have to nerve to say that God is on our side in all of this?

It is time to wake up and see there is no “them” — no great “enemy” out there doing this to us.  We are doing it to our selves. To quote the late “Pogo” cartoonist Walt Kelly, who was fighting against the fear and suspicion of the McCarthy era, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”  Our fear, bigotry and hatred are causing us to turn on each other.  The United States is being destroyed, not by bombs, or terrorists, but from within.  Fear is a powerful and apparently most effective weapon.

We must be vigilant.  This is not the time to give in to fear.  As always love is the true answer.  Love is the way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

q