Devotion for November 18

Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. James 3:13

Most of the people I have spoken to are grateful the recent elections are over – even if their preferred candidate didn’t win. Almost all of them report a growing disproval of the negative ads. My reply is agreement and the simple truth that they wouldn’t run those ads if we all turned them off. But, whether we turned them off or hit the mute button on the remote so we didn’t have to listen or not, the ads point to a larger issue in our country.

I think we are experiencing a loss of civility. My observations are that we do not see the courtesy or general regard for others we used to. Instead, it seems that we are growing impatient and self-involved as individuals. I have begun to wonder if we have lost our awareness of and gratitude for the blessings we have in this nation.

I am not one who likes to complain, so I have decided to make a holiday resolution: I will practice the art of civility and cultivate patience this holiday season. I will take to heart the admonition of St. James above. I will strive to show the good life God has given me with an attitude of gentleness born of the wisdom of Scripture. So, I am committed to giving thanks daily for the blessings I have received. I am pledging myself to slow down and try not to race by those moments of grace that are so abundantly available to each of us. And, when I find myself rushing from one thing to the next, I am going to go out of my way to slow down. Most of all, I want to be kind and respectful to all those I meet – especially those that irritate me!

I think I’ll have a much nicer holiday that way, don’t you? Why not join me? We just might help others along the way to be a bit more civil as well.

Lord, give me a dose of gentle wisdom today. Amen

Devotion for July 1

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God… Romans 13:1

            The above passage from St. Paul articulates the tension of loyalties we as Christians have. On the one hand, we are subjects of the state and the authority of the state. On the other, even that authority is subject to God. Christians celebrate when civil authority reflects the values of our faith and struggle when it does not. But the place of beginning for Christians, in our relationship with any government under whose authority we live, is that we will be loyal citizens – unless such loyalty significantly compromises our ultimate obedience to God.

            This coming Sunday we have a wonderful opportunity to thank God for the privilege of living in a country of religious and civil freedoms. As we thank God for that gift of “birthplace grace”, as a former theological professor of mine once called it, we also remember that our freedoms did not come without cost. The founding fathers and mothers of this nation established the faith principles that secure our freedom. These principles include the idea that the freedom we enjoy is only as secure as the freedom we strive to insure for others – especially those with whom we disagree. This principle empowered the soldiers of the Civil War as well as the freedom riders of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. This principle also demands accountability for our involvement in both civil and military actions that may or may not support it – the McCarthy era of the Cold War comes to mind.

            What I’m suggesting is that we have a spirit of humility about our national and international engagements – because we have learned that history will prove our motives one way or another. I am proud to be an American! But part of that pride is our national willingness to repent of past errors, instead of hiding them. As long as the principle above is met, this great country will remain great and under the authority of God.