I don’t know about you but I am weary regarding the national political discussion. It feels like we will never be unified. I am not expecting a kumbaya moment nor am I expecting us to all be robots, lose our individuality and fall in step to one ideology. But I do expect that we as a nation allow freedom of speech, have civil discourse and agree to disagree.

Recently my husband and I have joined other friends to work through an online course: Redeeming Babel.The After Party- how to engage with others about political ideas in a humble and hopeful way. It explores the how rather than the what of politics. Is there a better way to engage with each other rather than one side “beating” another. In the political arena- is it really all about who wins? Who is the most powerful? Is that the best outcome for a nation?

I am always reminded of my niece-in-law and her comments to her young children. We were at the beach and as typical of siblings, the older child was complaining that his little sister had the shovel and he wanted it. Because he was bigger, he could (and did) physically take it from her. He won the battle. But his sister, as typical, cried and was very upset.

Elaine calmly explained to her son, “That shovel is not that important but you are making it important by taking it from her. What is she learning from this? You won’t even care about it by tonight. However, the relationship you have with your sister is forever. Is the shovel that important that you want your sister to remember that you took things from her?”

I sometimes think that as a nation, we are arguing over a shovel and forgetting that the relationships are important- whether it is our relationships with our family, community, state, nation and even our global relationships.

I was intrigued when I heard about Redeeming Babel.The After Party- https://redeemingbabel.org/course/the-after-party-toward-better-christian-politics/: As the free course claims: “We need to radically recenter on Jesus. It’s time to reframe our political identity as we take the lead in healing what’s broken. Jesus’ call is clear: We are to be salt and light in this world.”

One of the topics they mention is the civil rights movement. Sometimes it is forgotten that the civil rights movement came from church leaders. I really like the “commitment card” that volunteers in the Birmingham, AL campaign had to sign:

I HEREBY PLEDGE MYSELF--MY PERSON AND MY BODY--TO THE NONVIOLENT MOVEMENT. THEREFORE I WILL KEEP THE FOLLOWING TEN COMMANDMENTS:

1 MEDITATE daily on the teachings and life of Jesus.

2 REMEMBER always that the nonviolent movement in Birmingham seeks justice and reconciliation-not victory.

3 WALK and TALK in the manner of love, for God is love.

4 PRAY daily to be used by God in order that all men might be free.

5 SACRIFICE personal wishes in order that all men might be free.

6 OBSERVE with both friend and foe the ordinary rules of courtesy.

7 SEEK to perform regular service for others and for the world.

8 REFRAIN from the violence of fist, tongue, or heart.

9 STRIVE to be in good spiritual and bodily health.

10 FOLLOW the directions of the movement and of the captain on a demonstration.

What about you? Are you fed up with the political discussions? Do you hope for a different way?

As with all things, the political issue that we are experiencing will pass away. What will be left in the aftermath- only God knows. But this is a time when Christians can stand up for what we know: God loves the whole world, even those individuals with whom we might violently disagree. We can show to the world how much God loves them, by the love and respect we show our fellow human beings.