Bridges that connect places, and more importantly, bridges that connect people.
Bridges to build community. We are no longer “segregated”.
Bridges that carry all people—even the least of these—to safety.
“Here's to the bridge-builders, the hand-holders, the light-bringers, those extraordinary souls wrapped in ordinary lives who quietly weave threads of humanity into an inhumane world. They are the unsung heroes in a world at war with itself. They are the whisperers of hope that peace is possible. Look for them in this present darkness. Light your candle with their flame. And then go. Build bridges. Hold hands. Bring light to a dark and desperate world. Be the hero you are looking for. Peace is possible. It begins with us.” (Thank you, L.R. Knost)
It is no surprise that I am frequently drawn to the story of the good Samaritan. I like Thomas Merton’s take, “Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy. That is not our business and, in fact, it is nobody’s business. What we are asked to do is to love.”
So. Let us carry with us Viktor Frankl’s helpful reframing, “The question can no longer be ‘What can I expect from life?’ but can now only be ‘What does life expect of me?’ What task in life is waiting for me?” (Yes to Life: In Spite of Everything)
Here’s the deal: “The plain fact is that the planet does not need more successful people. But it does desperately need more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of every kind.” David Orr
I can choose to be a peacemaker. And a bridge-builder.
And I just received this. Today, United Methodists from across western North Carolina are offering a public witness on behalf of people in our nation harmed by current immigration enforcement policies.
“We are United Methodist Christians who see and grieve the aggressive, undisciplined, illegal, and inhumane treatment of people in our country in ICE raids.
We are horrified and heartbroken that our country has become a battleground riddled with fear and rage. We believe in the God-given dignity of all people, including immigrants.
We refuse to remain silent or complicit.
We stand with all our neighbors as we pray for and demand an end to the use of brute and deadly force with no accountability. It is time for courage, love, and change.
The violence must stop.
Our faith compels us to show up and seek justice, defend the oppressed, welcome the stranger, and share the relentless love of God, who calls us to a more perfect union of love, peace, and goodness.”
“We walk for peace together. Carrying hearts of mercy on our journey.
We walk on snow covered roads. Carrying love and kindness on the road…
As we walk forward every step is a vow to practice.”
Sabbath Moments
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