The Pastor’s Desk

I’ve had a few people pull me aside and ask why I haven’t spoken about what’s been happening with Israel and Palestine. And my answer is the same each time, I don’t feel knowledgeable enough to speak on it. All I know is that the loss of life on both sides is horrific and the treatment of the people in Gaza is inhumane. And people here in the US are using what’s happening as an excuse for antisemitic and antimuslim behavior. It’s now 2024 and yet there is still racism that’s alive and festering, there’s still antisemitism and antimuslimism or I’m sure for many it will feel like a resurgence of these behaviors. There’s still all types of bigotry, pain, and cruelty out in the world and that can feel so overwhelming. There are so many hard things in the world that it can become overwhelming and it can feel as though there isn’t anything that we can do. Lately when I have found myself overwhelmed at the magnitude of struggles out in the world, I’ve been trying to remember this quote by Mr. Rogers “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping’.”

So I’ve been looking for the helpers. I’ve been looking at the journalists who seek to share the truths out in the world. I’ve been looking at humanitarian efforts. I’ve been looking at the people who are educating themselves so that they are aware of what is going on in the world. I’ve been looking at the people who pray without reserve and without bias. I’ve been looking at the people who are holding onto their Jewish and Muslim faith and inspiring others to do the same. And then I narrow it down to the world in front of me. And I look for the people who share posts about how to help their local homeless community. Or the people who work to be a safe person for LGBTQIA+ peoples. Or who volunteer at animal shelters. Or who take time to visit elderly people who no longer have family.

There is good out in the world. There are helpers out in the world. There are being who are bringing glory to God by the way that they treat the people and creation around them with care and love. God is in the biggest and in the smallest acts of kindness. And God is arms wrapped around you in comfort when the world seems to be overrun with the bad. God is the voice nudging you to action, to look for the helpers and to become a helper yourself.

God will work through even the worst and scariest moments, and more importantly God will not leave us in those moments. But will guide us through them. God will always be present. Thanks be to God. Amen.