A reader writes in, “Why are you spending so much time on Reconciliation.” Well there are lots of reasons — including there is so much in this world that needs to be reconciled, and I believe that Christians, and in fact all faiths, call their followers to a reconciliation of our lives and/or actions to God.
Throughout the world many political structures have been founded on ethnic or religious lines, and when those divisions create injustice and inequality, we have an obligation to break down those barriers — not by ending diversity, but by valuing everyone equally, even if it means confronting the structures that hold inequality in place.
Political and religious structures have been been building walls based on differences for centuries. In America, slavery treated one’s skin color as a barrier, and injustice permeated our country. Even after the Civil War, slavery was replaced by Jim Crow laws that enabled and developed a segregated society where white and black lived in separate worlds. We now celebrate those who began a movement in the 60’s to end segregation, but much progress is needed, and to a great extent America is still not a country where all men or women are created or treated equally.
So where do we begin. The German theologian Paul Tillich suggests that listening with love is the first step.
When we encounter division based on difference we are called to listen. Those who are the victims of injustice first and foremost want and need someone to listen, they want us to understand their claims to equality, and we owe our listening ears to their message.
I love your words on Reconciliation; each piece seem even more inspired than the last.
It strikes me with today’s writing, we must listen with the intent to actually hear for reconciliation to happen. I believe one can listen without hearing. Maybe that is where the road to misunderstanding and grievance begins.