I love it when this happens!...I was just talking with a friend of mine who is a Pastor at a Mennonite Church in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. In our email exchange, we were talking about the polarization within our society, especially as it’s pertaining to the political climate. He mentioned that he is trying to talk within his community about how the polarization and hate can be approached in the best way possible. Me, on the other hand, gave him a viritual “high five.” But, I wasn’t about to step into the arena. I was content watching from the sideline, saying that the work of being able to engage in tough conversations as it pertains to political views is just not for me. In my mind, I didn’t have the stamina. I don’t know about you, but a lot of the hate swirling around has been pretty darn exhausting.
Yet, God had a different idea for me. Just as I clicked out of that email and I continued in my church searching near our new home in Lancaster, I came across this sermon from Life Church. I urge you to take a listen to be encouraged in your journey as you navigate tough political conversations. If you’ve felt worn down by all that’s going on, listen to the sermon! In a way, it connects to my post a week or so ago about simple communication. We don’t have to do all the talking or fill in all the quiet moments. We can take a step back and listen.
I believe we are called to enter into the arena. It’s ok to take time-outs, but staying on the sideline might not be the best option if we are going to be sources of goodness and connection in our communities. We have the opportunity to show people that every conversation does not need to be a debate. We can bridge the gap between differing viewpoints by offering empathy. Happy rooting, everyone!
***If you want to check out the church where this awesome sermon comes from, visit https://lifechurchlancaster.org/)
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