As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
— Ephesians 4:1-6
Recently I have seen folks post about the reopening of schools:
Let’s practice begin practicing this now:
When a friend says they are sending their children back to school,
you answer “man, I’m so proud of you! I know it wasn’t easy making that decision.”
When a friend says they are homeschooling their kids,
you answer, “man, I’m so proud of you! I know it wasn’t easy making that decision.”
When a friend says they are doing virtual learning,
you answer, “man, I’m so proud of you! I know it wasn’t easy making that decision.”
My feeling is that is precisely the attitude we all of us need about everything in these trying times. None of us knows what we are doing. None of us have been in this place before. None of us is certain of what the future will be. The best we can do is hold each other up.
Bearing with one another in love means knowing that everyone — our friends, our health professionals, our teachers, the pastors, even our elected officials — are all doing the very best that we can. For some that means staying home until we have a vaccine. For some that means going about our ordinary activities. For some that means wearing a mask all the time. For some that means wishing for masks to disappear. We are all responding differently to all that this situation means.
Grace is not merely what we receive, it is what we can give to one another. Grace is what allows us to hold each other and maintain the unity that Christ has given to us. In the words of our beloved Mr. Wesley, “Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may.” And may it be so.
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
We share each other’s woes, our mutual burdens bear;
And often for each other flows the sympathizing tear.
Savior of the world, strengthen in us the spirit of hope and grant us patience with one another and fill us with your grace. Teach us to overcome division and be evidence of your community. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pastor Tom Greener