Jesus Met the Woman…

          Some minister friends and I were having a good conversation about what's wrong with our current culture (!) and what, if anything, the church can do to affect it. It's been an ongoing topic for us since the November election, which was dominated by the oversimplified analysis of "Red State/Blue State" politics. Incorporated into our talk was our analysis of our relationship with colleagues-- other ministers in Boston Presbytery, with whom we profess a common faith and calling but come down very differently on thorny issues (in much the way the general population fragments).

          We waded into a discussion of how some dialogue might be accomplished. And one thing we realized seems worth repeating here. We agreed that if we constantly hunker down with folks we agree with, complaining about but rarely seeking to have conversation with people who are on different sides of issues, it takes a lot less energy than it does to reach out. We tend to have regular occasions for meeting and talking with like-minded people; and it's comfortable rather than "stretching" for us to be in a friendly camp. By contrast, seeking others out who we know have different views is likely to take more time and planning; and it is conversation that we may expect to take more energy and focus.

          And as busy as most are, and as stressed as most seem to be, who wants to add to either condition?

          But who are we called to be, as Christians in this fragmented world?

          The gospel readings for Lectionary Year A (which are our Sunday passages for this Lent) describe Jesus' encounters with a series of really diverse persons. He is sought out in the middle of the night by Nicodemus, a Pharisee (and therefore, one of those we think of as being on the other side of the fence). He pauses by a well in Samaria to talk with a woman with a checkered past (something Jewish rabbis would never do). His healing of a blind man leads to confrontation with religious leaders. In every case, the dialogue leads to an offering of new insights to persons involved (and to us readers).

          As followers of this Jesus, it seems to me, we need to be willing to take the time, and offer the energy, that it takes to extend ourselves to people we know differ from us-at work, at home, in the neighborhood, even in church-not simply to argue, but to better understand one another, and find some new insights into our shared humanity.

          Someone's got to work on this Reds and Blues thing. Why not the followers of Jesus?

          Peace,

Rod