LIVING UNDER DARK SKIES

Kansas City, May 24, 2011 photo by Pastor Derrick

BY STEVE DUNN

A pastor friend of mine took this picture just before a series of powerful storms struck that area and wreaked devastation on Joplin, Missouri,  They were days of great loss and tragedy for the region; but they were times of great heroism and strength as ordinary people stepped up to help their neighbors and provide the means of recovery for their communities. I am ALWAYS impressed by the way ordinary people rise to such occasions bringing help, hope and healing.

In 2018 in this nation we live under dark skies.  From the Opioid crisis to the deadly flu epidemic we are faced with life-destroying sicknesses.From the divisive and combative political climate that leads to people living by conspiracy theories instead of reality to those who cheer on each outrage by our leaders as a justifiable settling of old scores, commitment to our democracy and trust in our institutions erodes daily.   From injustices that continue to be perpetrated in the name of political correctness to policies driven by anger and fear, our land has become a place of outrage instead of a nation where we affirm life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

How will we find our way through?  I am reminded of words from the previous century of a man named George Macleod: “I simply argue that the cross be raised again at the centre of the marketplace as well as on the steeple of the church.  It is time to invite God back into the arena.  To stop thinking of Him as irrelevant,or worse, the enemy. To once again embrace the values that are taught in His Word.

And the value that we need to all embrace--Christian or not--"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:39) 

Too long we have seen people as black or white, immigrant or native, friend of stranger, male or female, Republican or Democrat, Christian or Muslim or other, old or young, haves or have nots. We are all "neighbors" in God's sight. 

Dark skies would give way to the sunshine of hope and peace if we started seeing one another as neighbors and remember that the great commandment is to love that neighbor! 

© 2018  by Stephen L. Dunn.  You have permission to reprint this provided it is unchanged, proper authorship is cited, it is in a publication not for sale, and a link is provided to this site or to www.drstevedunn.com. For all other uses, contact Steve at sdunnpastor@gmail.com