A Call To Arms

Boy, I am in a fighting mood, pushed almost to the limit this morning by The Ancient Living Text and The Puritan Prayer book.  It is exactly the same feeling I get listening to the news—except for one major difference, the first calls me to the war of love and reconciliation and the others mostly call me to the war of hate and division.  The difference is in the fight.  This will clear it up; The Ancient One calls us to “fight” but finishes the phrase this way, “fight the good fight.”  What is this good fight?  It is the fight to love.  Put in another way, if you are being mean by breaking into the Capitol or breaking shop windows or killing the unborn, or refusing the refugee, you are not fighting the good fight.  You are on the other side; just fighting!  

Oh boy am I called to arms!!!  Politicians of all stripe are lined up against us, some employ mobs, some the National Guard, most the media.  But we are called to the arms of love, to wrap them around the poor, needy, sick, lame, and hurting and NOT BACK DOWN—put another way, “let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.  So then, while we have the opportunity let us do good to all people,”.      

Two last things so that you will know how difficult this is for me and you.  You have to be willing to die for your beliefs not kill for them.  No great warrior ever went into battle willing to kill, love overcomes that, but nothing can overcome the willingness to die for what one believes.  The fight didn’t begin when President Trump was elected or President Biden, both minor players, give me Mother Teresa any day.  The fight begins, as it did for me, every morning when you wake up, sit down with God, and get your orders for the day.    

Secondly, don’t back down.  Oppose meanness at every step, and walk in the way of love with every one of those strides.  Call your politicians every week and try to see them when you can.  Tell them you expect them to do the same, to stop this fight of hate and join the good fight of doing good.  NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, BACK DOWN!!!