Yesterday morning I woke up to the news that one senatorial race in my state was called and the other was soon to be settled with a declared winner. After the deluge of political flyers, mailers, text messages and phone calls, it was important for me to offer a simple morning post focusing on January 6 as the day of Epiphany. Here is the entirety of my post, timestamped at 7:38 AM: Today is Epiphany, the day Christians celebrate God incarnate through the birth of Jesus. We remember the visitation of the magi from the East and the gifts they shared. On this day fraught with political division, hard (and perhaps harsh) feelings, how will God be revealed to you? What gifts will you share? Somebody’s life might depend on it.
Just a few hours later the assault on our Nation’s capital made this post feel remote. Violence and the loss of life marked the day of Epiphany. Traumatized persons of color witnessed white supremacy on full display with confederate flags brandished and racial epithets spewed with what seemed to be very little resistance from law enforcement. All the world watched with pain as sedition threatened our country. The loss was and is so overwhelming.
In the Biblical story of the magi tells us that they went home another way because they were warned in a dream “not to return to Herod.” Like yesterday, violence ensued. Herod could not believe that there was any other way but his way. He would allow it, and so killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under. This story is remembered as “The Slaughter of the Innocents.”
Even the manger has a shadow and this is a “Christmas” story that I wish we did not have to tell. Yet then, as now, this must be told because we live in a world of violence and lament.
Ethicist Stanley Hauerwas commented that what we need is not an explanation of suffering, but rather “a community capable of absorbing our grief.” Oh how we need community. When I made it home yesterday evening I needed the community of my wife to be with me, and to speak and text with my children who live several hours away. I needed the gentle conversations with neighbors while out walking my dog. I need you too, to share in community, otherwise I am left alone with Herod.
We may not “like” Herod for his murderous and maniacal ways, but it is frighteningly easy to follow our own agenda and get through life by whatever means necessary.
Christ calls for us to assume a different agenda. If Jesus said to not lay up treasures in heaven, then I best invest in relationships here on earth. If Jesus said deny myself, then I can no longer be the center of the universe. Like the magi, I need to go by another way.
“There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountaintop…” (Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom).
Step by step we diminish the power of the Herods in this world when our steps take us from the manger to the difficult way of Christ, where inconvenient truth is spoken, compassion is embraced, and radical love is lived. Emerging from the shadow of the manger, I still stand behind my post yesterday – “On this day fraught with political division, hard (and perhaps harsh) feelings, how will God be revealed to you? What gifts will you share? Somebody’s life might depend on it.”
This brought me to tears. Thank you, Greg.
Thank you, Greg. My heart is so broken for the division in our country. Your blog made me stop and think about the heartbrokenness of the families who lost their baby sons in the midst of hatred after our Christ was born. What a dark day it was then. There is no Light without darkness. May we focus on the Light – the hope of Jesus Christ.
As always, you are spot on. Why can’t they see there are other ways. Why go thru this using whatever means necessary. My heart aches for this nation. I did not agree with the outcome of our Georgia election either, but to have no regard for your actions….I just pray the next few years are met with prayerful concern for all. …..PS I did get to hug one of your sons & daughter in love.
Amen, dear Friend, words of comfort, community, and challenge for a most difficult time
A much needed message I will do my best to take to heart, with God’s help. Thank you, Greg.
A powerful painting, too. Is it yours?
Thank you so much for this post. Lord, we need this message. I hope you don’t mind if I share…Peggie
Thank you Greg. I sorely needed to read your thoughts.
What a powerful message! As always, you write words of truth. I pray that in the coming weeks and months, our nation will begin to heal and we, as Christians, can be the light to lead the way.
Blessings to you and yours,
Edwina
Greg, I wanted to cry yesterday when I heard about what was happened in DC. Our county needs to start praying for peace and stop this fighting. I’m so heart broken. Thank you for your words.
You ofcourse are right. Yesheua and Shalom are not always said in the same breath.
Thank you for your message. We (community) must continue to do the next right thing.
Greg, once again you summed our situation up beautifully . One of my gifts at this time of despair is your message….. I will share it with my family and dear friends. Thank you.
Out of the darkness we can be light if the church will seize this time in our history to be the church god has called us to be. Father grant us the grace and courage to travel a better way. Dawg
Amen!
Bless you!
Good to hear from you – hope you are well!
Bless you and anything I “publish” is shareable.
Thank you. No, the painting is not mine and I could not figure out how to give credit. It is from an African American artist that I discovered online.
Thank you for your words of love and peace that can only come through our Lord. It was a dark day in our country. Hopefully we learn and can see our way out of the darkness into the light.