The Woman With the Alabaster Jar Pt2

All of us on this earth cry at some point. Jesus knows those tears as well. We know those tears. When we see people, we empathize with those tears, with that raw emotion. Is someone crying over the loss of a loved one? Each of us have faced that as well and understand that emotion. Is someone crying over a heartbreak? Each of us have had our heart broken at some point and can empathize with that. Is someone crying because she was called fat, ugly, stupid, or some other bullying and degrading name? Many of us can relate and understand those tears. We all have much more in common than we do differences. We have shared emotions and emotional reactions. Most of us have a shared desire for peace. Most of us want great communities, states, and countries.

What does Jesus, Steve Irwin, and James Comey Have in Common?

What Steve Irwin, James Comey, and Jesus have in common here, is they tell us to look – really look – at the people around us. Look at their hearts. Pay attention to their tears. They also teach us, that sometimes, there is a price to be paid for seeing people for who they are.  Steve Irwin always called snakes “gorgeous” or a “beauty” – ways I would never refer to any snake. He saw past the bad stuff about the snakes and alligators, instead seeing their place – their function - in the world and the need to preserve them. He spent years learning about these creatures. 

As we get to know our neighbors, we can learn to look past who they voted for in the last election and see the beauty they can provide to us and to the world, what unique talents and gifts they can provide to our society, and that we need them in this world. Steve Irwin often said the snakes were scared of humans, yet we are the ones most afraid when we encounter them.  The same is true with people on the other side of the political aisle. We all have fears, and they are likely the same fears, just from different perspectives. What’s happening to our country? What type of country are we leaving our children and grandchildren?   

I don’t think I’ll ever NOT be afraid of snakes, but I can learn to not fear my neighbors. The more we learn about each other, maybe we can stop fearing them and stop hating them. We can find commonalities to make the foundation of a relationship. But, we can only do this when we really “see” them and look at them as Jesus demonstrated and instructed.

Ukraine

As I wrote much of this blog on the morning of February 24, the news was on in the other room. The horrific news of Putin unleashing war upon the innocent people of Ukraine was the only news shared. Throughout the day, I monitored the news – as did many people. My heart has been so heavy for the Ukrainians. As I looked at Twitter that night, I was appalled at some Americans who have claimed it was fake news and others who defended Putin. This is where the divisions in our country have left us. Have we really come to this? 

Who’s Justice?

We, as a society, have already become desensitized to the hurt and suffering of others. We have reached a level that we don’t care what is happening to others, thinking that what is happening to others doesn’t affect us. Why should we care what happens in a county on the other side of the world? We, Americans, need to take care of our own first.  These sentiments are in the same vein as others I’ve seen within America over the last several years. Why should we care that a 19 year old is selling her body each night to earn money to take care of her kid? Why should we care a Republican’s lawmaker’s wife is battling cancer? Why should we care that a Democrat lawmaker is receiving death threats and threats of sexual violence? 

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” We like to quote this on MLK Day each year, but do we believe it? And who’s justice? Does your idea of justice look the same as the person with a different skin tone? When I’ve asked victims of sexual assault what their idea of justice is, the answers have been different from my idea of justice for them.  

Jesus in America Today

Jesus didn’t come to this earth, die on the cross, and be resurrected just for Americans, Republicans, Democrats, political conservatives or liberals, or just for evangelicals or any one particular denomination (or “non-denomination”). Jesus was the master at seeing people for who they were, for identifying their needs, and loving them for who they were. He is still that way, though He’s not physically here in the flesh. That’s where we, those who claim to follow Him, come in. We have to be Jesus in the flesh. We have to be the ones to see people for who they are. Look past the label “Democrat” or “Republican”, “conservative” or “liberal”, “evangelical” or “Anglican”, and the other labels we’ve put on people. 

What if Jesus lived today in America and the woman came, cried at his feet, and washed her tears with her hair? Would the church leader say, “if He knew she was a Republican/Democrat …. .” or “if He knew she voted for Biden . .”, or “if He knew she voted for Trump. . .” or “if He knew she supported LGBTQ . . .”?  I don’t think Jesus’ reaction and words wouldn’t change. He would still say “look”.

Who Do You Need to See?

Can we heal the divisions in our land? Who do you need to “look” at and really see?

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