It was a tough week for our community: losing the National Sports Media Association to our neighbor, Winston-Salem, and the continued threat of violence that has become somewhat of a plague.
The newspaper and City Council meetings have been filled with comments, letters, complaints, worries, and hoped-for solutions to the problems. Anxiety is high, and anxiety that's led to considerable anger among some.
What to do? There have been lots of opinions, to be sure. In the midst of the opinion-sharing, I'd hope for two things:
- Dare to listen to one another. There's a lot of talking these days. Please, let's open our ears and listen. I honestly don't know the day-to-day struggles of my West End neighbors other than what I read in the paper. We need to be open to their insight and eager to gather wisdom from those who know their neighborhood best. That's why my friend Chad says, "God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason."
- Act out of love for our community. We have much to love here, and we've been fortunate to stand on the shoulders of giants who likewise have loved this community. But we can't truly love something by simply contemplating our love for it. We act. We show our love in the way we speak and in the priorities we establish. The same is true in the realm of peace. Jesus never asked us to be peace-contemplators. He asked that we be peace-makers. Let's be love-makers for our community. Let's begin our comments with these words: "I love this community, therefore ..."
The issues of our day are complex, no doubt. But the most complicated of problems begin with a few simple starting points. Let's start by listening and then proclaiming our true love for this community.
Thank you, friends, for what you do as bearers of Christ's light. I'll see you in church.
Peace+
Pastor Rhodes
