Checking In and Taking Care
If we want a country in which people live justly and peacefully, we must not remain silent and disconnected from our neighbors.
This past Saturday, ten people were killed in a supermarket in Buffalo, NY. On Sunday, one person was killed and five others were wounded in a church in Laguna Woods, CA. Both of these horrific mass shootings were motivated by hatred. The first was a White man who hates Black people. The second was a Chinese man who hates Taiwanese people.
A supermarket. A church. Hearts full of hatred.
We have been talking so much about the need for Divine Love in recent weeks. The events of this weekend reveal, yet again, what a world without a Love that calls us to be more than we are looks like. It is easy to succumb to the fear and divisive hatred that is all around us. It is easy to believe the lies of those with power.
Loving our neighbors and loving ourselves is an act of resistance. Take a moment and check in with yourself. How is it with your spirit? What do you need to do for yourself so that you can breathe a little more deeply and relax into God’s love for you and Creation?
Once you’ve done that, check in with a neighbor. Ask them how it is with their spirit. Can you do something for a neighbor, or with a neighbor, to help them also reduce the stress in their life? We need one another.
As the echoes of a fear-mongering administration continue to ripple through the country, it is important to continue to take care of ourselves so that we can resist the lure of hatred. If we want a country in which people live justly and peacefully, we must not remain silent and disconnected from our neighbors.
Faith is resistance. Pray for the survivors of this weekend’s violence. Pray for change.
Love is resistance. Love yourself. Love your neighbors. Keep fear at bay.
What act of resistance will you engage in this week?
About Rachael Keefe
Rev. Dr. Rachael Keefe is the pastor of Living Table United Church of Christ. She was called to Living Table in 2015 after serving in many varied ministry settings since her ordination in 1992. She holds graduate degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and Andover Newton Seminary at Yale (formerly Andover Newton Theological School). Her ministry and leadership often center around advocacy and accessibility. Her writing has been published by Chalice Press, The Christian Century, Red Letter Christians, Working Preacher, RevGalBlogPals, and others. She is grateful to be in ministry with Living Table today.
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