Today’s Thoughts on God – Will We Go Forward or Backward?
Growing up in the 1960’s and 70’s, we Americans saw our nation in turmoil. Groups who had been marginalized and oppressed had decided that they were done, and the movements for equality that had started decades earlier went into overdrive. A lot of things changed – a lot of laws were passed – and a lot of freedoms were gained. That movement continued for a short time, but the people formerly in control got scared. Scared of non-straight people getting the right to marry – scared of brown and black people gaining political power – scared of women taking “their” jobs. They started to fight back, forming coalitions around “family values” and “faith agendas”, and a nation that had seemed to be moving forward began to stall. We shifted into reverse.
I noticed the diversity around me as a young adult – I saw people who were different from me being more visible. People of different races and cultures and religions and nationalities were suddenly holding hands in public. Bigoted barriers were being broken down, and the America I grew up in was becoming more open to change and diversity. And I, for one, liked it. It felt like we were moving forward. But the old bigotries and hatreds continued. I remember being at a college party and dancing with an African American woman – she was a really smart, kind, funny – and beautiful – person, so I was a happy camper. At one point, some of my friends asked me what I was doing, dancing with her. I actually had no answer, but I finally said, “Who wouldn’t?” Their disappointment in me was palpable – and they were no longer my friends. I can’t abide racists.
Diversity is the nature and plan of God, and every system needs it to survive. The America of the past hated diversity, inclusion, and equity because it shook up the status quo. For a while, we tried to mend that problem, and it – mostly – worked. Now, though, we seem to be moving backwards. We have embraced an ideology of fear and distrust that will, over time, be the end of us. If we are trying to go somewhere but keep looking backwards, we will trip and fall. It is a really important question – will we go forward, or will be go backward? What we choose matters.
Prayer – God of new beginnings and exciting creations, continue to guide us into the future. The past is over. Amen.
Today’s art is “Passage into the Future” by David Seacord.