Just One Kind Word
A year past February we awoke to news that Russia had invaded Ukraine.
There had been rumblings of that possibility for over two months. Now, a year and half+ later, there appears to be no end in sight. The war continues to be fought from the air, the sea, and on the ground. Countless lives have been lost. Our own country has opened our borders to citizens of Ukraine. Families have been separated, with many members remaining in their home country to protect their nation.
This past weekend, we were reminded again how fragile life can be.
In the Middle East, once more, Palestine and Israel are at war. Instability of peace has a long history between these two nations. Who is right and who is wrong is not ours to decide.
Then, on Thursday of this past week, news from Saskatchewan reports that a “fringe conspiracy group” --under the leadership of Romana Didulo, self-appointed “Queen of Canada” --is threatening the municipal leadership in the Village of Richmound (pop. 175) with possibilities of public executions. This fringe group has been operating in North America for at least two years. They have taken over the community’s shuttered school.
We could discount any of the three situations described above. At the same time, as Christians, we have a duty to look at our responsibility as related to our baptism vows.
The word I have chosen (from our friends of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist in Boston) is “Dignity.”
To quote Brother James Koester:
“In our baptisms we pledged, with God’s help, to strive for justice and peace among all people, and to respect the dignity of every human being. But we cannot do that if we are constantly elbowing people out of the way. We cannot do that if we fail to see the image of God in the faces of those we deem to be least or last.”
Connected to this reflection by Bro. Koester is the current book study in our parish.
A few of us are reading, and reflecting on, the book “Truth Telling” by Michele Good.
Thankfully, this book is not about armed conflicts, or the threat of public executions. It is about the time(s) in (the history of) our country when we fail(ed) to see the image of God in the faces of others. It is a clarion call for all peoples of Canada to find peace and harmony, with respect for all, from sea to sea to sea.
Some closing thoughts of wisdom from Mr. Rogers:
“Imagine what our real neighborhoods would be like if each of us offered, as a matter of course, just one kind word to another person.”
Blessings to all,
Ven. Brian+
