For the past several years, it has probably felt like facts are hard to come by. Everything in our news media – and sometimes in our in-person encounters – seems to be considered subjective, or prone to “alternative facts.” It’s hard to always know what is true in a world where some people are more concerned about how true something “feels” rather than what can actually be verified. We’re all a little guilty of it from time to time. We all sometimes look for facts that will match the narrative we prefer rather than look for facts that might challenge what we want the world to look like. And when we live in an instant-analysis environment, these struggles become even more profound.
I promise I wasn’t planning on writing anything that could be construed as political when I began thinking about the newsletter article for today. But reality got in the way, and I felt I had to spend a little time reflecting on the shocking attack on our former president, the anxiety it has brought about in many of us, and how we’re called to respond. As people of faith, our response might look a little different from the instant-reaction culture that we live in.
First, an important caution: Our news media – and interested political operators on all sides – are more concerned with being first than with being right. While there are times to be quick to respond, such as when natural disasters occur or we know emergency structures are likely to be overwhelmed, our first response to this event and similar acts of violence must be to take a breath, pray for clarity and for health and safety for all involved, and then take almost all initial information with a large grain of salt. When tragedies occur, there are people who honestly want to report on what is known and want to help. There also are those who seek to find ways to profit from the incident, even if it means creating a false truth to fit their preferred outcome.
Because of these things, it’s not always possible to know quickly what true facts can be counted on. Subjective matters such as motivations and allegiances are hard to determine, because there’s so much noise that garbles what is real. But what is always true: the Holy Spirit’s call to compassion and healing in all things.
Fred Rogers once shared a word of wisdom his mother told him: “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” We are all encouraged to find the helpers. More than that, we are called to be the helpers. We are called to be people to pray for and with people who are struggling, and we are called to look for ways to help, even if it is in small ways, such as being a calm presence for those disturbed by the events of our world.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:7: “We walk by faith, not by sight.” Usually, we take this verse to mean that we trust God rather than what our eyes see. But more than that, this verse is meant to remind us that our very allegiance and focus are to always be on God, and not trusting in the things of this world to receive our salvation. And there is no better way to walk by faith than by walking in such a way that we share God’s love with our neighbors in need.
Beloved, I don’t dare claim to know everything about any matter that happens in our world these days. I know every single news source has its biases and intended audiences. But I also know that our first response – always – should be a response of faithful living as members of the body of Christ. We can’t control the narrative of the entire world, but we can control how we respond. So let me ask you: Where can you offer grace in a hard situation? Where can you be a presence of compassion and healing in a broken world? And where is it that you can advocate for true justice and true peace that seeks to lift up the weak and lowly, so that those who are without voice can be heard?
Today I’m going to close with the prayer I shared this past Sunday, borrowed from my beloved colleague, Pastor Robert Franek, as modified from the ELW prayers for times of crisis:
O God, where hearts are fearful and constricted, grant courage and hope. Where anxiety is infectious and widening, grant peace and reassurance. Where distrust twists our thinking, grant healing and illumination. All these things we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Pastor Chris