Lately I have been spending a lot of time thinking about the state of our world.

I see what appears to be a forest fire approaching our culture.

I also see part of the culture sitting back saying, “Nothing to see here.”

I see trouble ahead.

I also believe that if we are in the time I think we are, then there is no avoiding that trouble. We are on a one lane road and there is no UTURN.

I hear people calling for action…uprising….even violence.

The world is polarized and divided and people are saying, “It’s us or them!”

I have people urging me to: PICK A SIDE…RIGHT OR LEFT; TAKE A STAND… LEFT OR RIGHT; VOTE THIS WAY AND BLAME THOSE WHO DON’T VOTE THE SAME; STOP TRYING TO MAKE NICE WITH THE OTHER SIDE. WE HAVE TO SAVE THE WORLD FROM THEM AT ANY COST.

BUT

I CAN THINK OF ANOTHER WAY.

It’s an ancient way. It is an eternal way.

It is the way of…“let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ” 1 John 4:7,8

It is the way of...”‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22: 37-39

It is the way of… “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” Matthew 5:44

This way is neither left nor right. It is straight ahead.

This way doesn’t choose the human way. It chooses God’s way. It leaves saving the world up to God and makes loving people its priority. It doesn’t choose riches or primacy. It doesn’t choose money or security. It chooses relationship. It chooses community. It chooses sharing, encouraging and sacrificing for others.

Most of all this way doesn’t view this life as the “be all and end all of existence.” It accepts all of life on this side…good, bad, and ugly

AND

It accepts that there is life even in death… and that life is light, love and laughter.

SO IN THE DAYS AHEAD…

I will choose another way.

I will choose the way of loving God and loving people.

I will choose the way of peace.

I will choose community.

I will choose relationship.

I will choose sharing.

I will choose encouraging

I will choose the way of sacrifice.

I will choose to pray for the Lord’s salvation to come quickly!

WHAT WILL YOU CHOOSE?