Until recently

As I write this article, our nation is reeling from another two senseless acts of violence: the mailing of explosive devices to persons who have spoken unflatteringly (in that persons’ mind) about our current President, and the absolutely senseless killing of Jewish men and women who had gathered for a time of worship in a Pennsylvania synagogue.

It seems to me this nation of ours has lost its collective mind.

It has never been an acceptable practice to speak of women in derogatory terms, especially anatomically speaking – until recently.

It has never been an acceptable practice to speak lies or unscrupulously spread misinformation – until recently.

It has never been acceptable to pass blame for one’s own actions onto another – until recently.

This is not to say these things didn’t happen in the past. They did.

But now it is all just given a passing “tsk!” “Boys will be boys” and “girls will be girls.”

The rhetoric heard coming from numerous sources in Washington, in political ads, from leaders of various religious organizations, from ordinary citizens has become appalling. The value of human life and dignity has become so narrow, the only person who matters the most is “me” – the individual.

It doesn’t matter what side of the political spectrum you are on. If you are speaking unkindly about someone – you are in the wrong. STOP IT!

It doesn’t matter if the way someone else worships is different than yours. If you speak unkindly about someone – you are in the wrong. STOP IT!

If you are being ugly toward someone or a group of persons and feel justified in doing so – you are in the wrong. STOP IT!

What, pray tell, makes you think that your way of acting and behaving is truly better than someone else’s way?

I find it sad when people agree that something needs to change, but do nothing about it themselves – except continue to spout their hatred toward those who are different, and say the “others” need to change.

We have not been created by our God to be at each other’s throats. We were created to live in community with one another. Look at the way so many are responding with kindness, generosity, and service to the victims of Hurricane Michael. That’s what we are supposed to be about all the time.

As Anne Lamott said, “You can safely assume you’ve created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.”

The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Until recently