A Rev Barb Lenten Musing. 
We are more than half way through our Lenten journey to the most holy of days in our Christian story. In this sacred story, on the night before Jesus goes to the cross where he will be crucified, he tells his followers to put away their swords. While on the cross Jesus cries out to forgive.
He continuously preached on the ancient Hebrew laws calling for justice, especially for the poor and the strangers in the land, he healed the sick and he fed the hungry, he socialized with foreigners. He taught us that loving God is reflected in how we treat others. In the Christian tradition, after his death Jesus is resurrected, proving that in the end love and forgiveness can never be defeated by hate and violence.
The “Way” to God that Jesus showed us through his life and teachings was a Way of Love and Compassion
If we can work together to move beyond the things that divide us and recognize that regardless of what nation we are from, what faith tradition we may or may not follow, who we voted for, what the color of our skin is, the sexual orientation of our nature, or the gender we identify with; and instead understand that all of us feel hurt, experience fear, seek love, and want the best for our children while also acknowledging that we are stewards of a magnificent planet — then we can create a better world where hatred, fear and violence no longer have a place and peace and joy reign.
We may not be able to stop the slaughter in Gaza, or bring the Israeli hostages home, or end the violence in our cities, but we can make a difference through acts of kindness and acceptance, generosity with those in our community who are in need, talking with a homeless person at the side of the road and recognizing their humanity and their struggle, trying to understand why someone holds a different political view, hugging a young woman who just aborted her child as she cries because it was such a heartbreaking decision and hopes she is never in a situation where she has to do it again…..there are so many small ways in which we can make a difference.
In the words of one of my favorite songs, “like a small boat in the ocean, sending big waves into motion, like how a single word can make a heart open. I may only have one match but I can make an explosion.” (The Fight Song by Rachel Platten)
May it be so…..
With Love and Blessings!
Barb