We are, it seems, in a season of discontent, an often vitriolic presidential campaign that threatens to divide us. Even in my own family, there is strong disagreement on the merits of the presidential candidates. There is no shortage of name-calling in virtually every news report.
We are better than that. At our core, we long for the same freedoms. Our best selves want a bright and new day of unity in our country. We want the sun to rise on fresh hope and better tomorrows. We desire to live out the Scripture that admonishes us to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God.
I want to share with you the eloquent and inspiring words spoken by the Rev. Dr. William Barber, II on Thursday night at the Democratic National Convention:
I say to you tonight, there are some issues that are not left versus right, liberal versus conservative, they are right versus wrong. We need to embrace our deepest moral values and push for a revival of the heart of our democracy . . .
When we love the Jewish child and the Palestinian child, the Muslim and the Christian and the Hindu and the Buddhist and those who have no faith but they love this nation, we are reviving the heart of our democracy. . .
We must shock this nation with the power of love. We must shock this nation with the power of mercy. We must shock this nation and fight for justice for all. We can’t give up on the heart of our democracy, not now, not ever!
May God guide all of us as we exercise our right to speak and to vote. May God give us an extra measure of respect when we don’t agree. May respectful dialogue replace name-calling and vitriolic speech. May we emerge in November as a people united and determined to be the best we can be. God bless us everyone. And God bless America.
God of the Sparrow 🌱 By Kathy Manis Findley 