While faith has a political dimension
Partisan politics is deeply divisive
The faithful of whatever stripe
Should cleanse their hearts of such division
Individually we must include the ‘other’
Warts and all
If our hearts are filled with self-righteousness
And moral certainty
Of the kind that condemns the other
That abandons the other
As fallen
And unworthy
Of love
Forgiveness
Charity
As beyond the dignity of consideration
Then we are the fallen ones
We have failed in our task
Of spiritual inclusion
When we close our hearts
To the ‘other side’
Then it is us
Who must soften
And put down our stones
And work to remove the beams from our eyes
And give of OUR shirt and coat
And by example show love
Not by condemnation
Not by the ‘public prayer’
Of signalling our superior virtue
But by the demonstration
Of our living faithfulness
To kindness
Love
Generosity
Forgiveness
To our neighbour
And our enemy!
And then
And only then
Can we win hearts
And minds
So I ask
While we condemn
Our political enemies
Do we forgive and pray for them?
With love not contempt
With humility not moral arrogance
For it is we who must search our hearts
So that we may stand as living witness
And testament
To love
Happy Holidays
