Yesterday we watched an attempted coup in the United States of America. We watched angry white men and women storm the Capital, push through barriers, break windows, trespass onto the floor of the House, occupy lawmakers’ offices, attack law enforcement officers, replace American flags on poles with Trump flags, all while believing their actions were patriotic. They believed they were fighting for their nation. In fact, they were seditious.
In the news coverage, I remember seeing flags declaring “Jesus 2020.” Well, I don’t know what faith they hold, but I know without question that they do not follow the Jesus of scriptures.
Activist and CNN commentator, Van Jones highlighted the challenge of this moment. He said, “We don’t know what we are looking at yet. Is this the end of something or the beginning of something? Are we seeing the death throes of something ugly in our country, desperate, about to go away…or is this the birth pangs of a worse disorder? That’s where we are right now.”
Yesterday was scary. Yesterday we saw ourselves at our worst. Yesterday showed us what thuggery looks like. It showed us what white privilege looks like. A woman lost her life. Officers were seriously injured. Critical national work was disrupted. Yesterday broke our hearts. We should never forget yesterday.
So today…
Today, we claim the promise of Psalm 30:5, “Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
Today, we buckle in and begin the hard work of building democracy again.
Today, we remember that yesterday was not who we are. We are better. We are kinder. We are braver.
Today, we give thanks to the law enforcement officers, reporters, and peace activists who stepped into the danger for the sake of the common good.
Today, we remind ourselves that more holds us in common than divides us as a people, a nation, and a world.
Today, we try to walk the Way of Love again.
We will find our way through this moment, though we may have hard days ahead. None of us will forget what we have seen. I pray we don’t forget what we have learned.
May God’s spirit be among us in these coming days.
We are in this together,
Cameron
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