When things just don’t add up.  When total agreement seems unachievable.  When being of one mind is a fleeting fancy.  These are the times that try men’s souls.

But Thomas Paine wasn’t looking for reconciliation when he penned those words.  Five months after the Declaration of Independence, facing the onslaught of British forces at Baltimore, Paine refused to believe that God would abandon their cause and give them over to those who would enslave them.  Two days later, on Christmas Day, George Washington would take his troops back across the Delaware to certain victory.  But this was not reconciliation.

Reconciliation tops the news these days as Congress attempts to force vote the passage of healthcare reform in order to avoid gridlock.  However, this only results in half of the country being happy (?); political partisanship will still keep unrest stirred up.

The word reconciliation comes from Latin, meaning “to make good again.”  For something to be reconciled, it must have first to have gone wrong.  True reconciliation doesn’t just require agreement. Even acknowledged forgiveness is not enough.  Hurts can’t just be forgiven; they must be healed.

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Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Genesis 18:25

God didn’t seem to be offended when Abraham recommended what he thought to be the correct mode of action for dealing with Sodom and Gomorrah.  But seeing the big picture, we see Abraham’s ultimate motive for wanting to spare the twin cities, that is sparing the life of his nephew Lot.  Was it really possible for him to persuade God to alter his intentions for destruction?

What is true justice?  The dictionary has several meanings, but the one I think fits best is “the administering of deserved punishment or reward.”  And Christianity-at-large is right on board with that.  They see God as in charge of giving good or delivering whuppings.  But can we, like Abraham, challenge his justice?

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Most people would agree that we seem to be on a journey in this life.  The old gospel song, Life Is Like A Mountain Railroad, gives the image of our trip “from the cradle to the grave.”  Being conscious of the concept of time, we see the world around us changing, ourselves and our families aging, and have encountered numerous births and funerals over our lifetime.  We who are seniors look back and wonder where the time went, wishing, at times, for some do-overs.

In various religious circles a perfecting process is recognized.  Through our encounter with God we see where we have failed and where we need to improve.  Some often can see a clear progression in themselves and others.  But we also can see those who seem to be moving backwards; their bodies are aging, but their minds are deteriorating, as evidenced by their behavior.  What should be obvious, however, is that a great many exit this life as “unfinished business.”

I believe that we were all created by God, and that there is no one accurate, true religion.

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 [The following is an excerpt from a novel by Scottish author George MacDonald, regarding the nature of one of his characters.]

In his inmost being he knew the mission of man is to help his neighbors.  But in as much as he was ready to help, he recoiled from meddling.  To meddle is to destroy the holy chance.  Meddlesomeness is the very opposite of helpfulness, for it consists of forcing yourself into another self, instead of opening yourself as a refuge to the other.  They are opposite extremes, and, like all extremes, touch.  

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This is difficult to write, without thinking of bacon, sausage, ham or pork roast.  Yum-m-m.  But it’s a serious subject to those who can’t eat the things.  While pig consumption is repulsive to both Muslims and Jews, some entrepreneurs are taking advantage of the tourists who crave the tasty meat.  Said Samouk, a practising Muslim in Morocco, raises 250 of the porkers in order to supply the need of the tourist poplulation, expected to reach 10 million by 2010.  Yves Yoel Chriquia, 32, owns the country’s main pork processing factory.  He’s a Jew.

Some countrys ban pig farming because it violates the national religion.  Which brings up a good point.  If belief is tranlated into behavior, is it right to encourage others to do something that you believe in your heart is wrong.  I’m not talking about murder or rape, for example, which is wrong on any level.  Rather, I’m referring to personal choices based on belief.  Like going to a restaurant on Sunday, when you don’t believe people should work on Sunday.  Or driving a beer truck, when you’re personally against alcohol.  Or working at Walt Disney World, even though they have a Gay Day.

Is what we believe a universal mandate for all creation, or is it just for those of us chosen by God?  Are we to be seen as examples of righteous living, or are we called to impose our lifestyle on the world?  Personally, I would advise caution on both fronts.  Certainly, if it’s within our power, we should work to correct inhumanity, whether it be between people or nations.  And we should take care not to clothe our righteous behavior with arrogance or pride.

God made all of us.  The same God, no matter what you may call him.  We should be less concerned about religious protocol, and be more conscious of caring and loving.  A great task lies before us.  It is right outside our door.  It ends only with full reconciliation.
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Pork Prohibitions
Reconciliation

Hugs and tears help, if you’re there in person.  Prayers, too, if you’re only reading about it, or watching it on TV.  But those who knew Jewell Nicole Ward, Michael Demesyeux and Innocent Demesyeux are having difficulty dealing with the tragedy that took the lives of these young children.  Why would a mother do this to her own children?  Why did God let her do it?  How could it have been prevented?  Some are pointing fingers.  Others are feeling anger toward the 27-year-old mother, Leatrice Brewer.  But many are turning to their faith for needed comfort, and for strength to bear one another’s sorrow.  Forgiveness is difficult at present, but must eventually come in order to have true peace.  Reconciliation is an even greater task and will not reach fulfillment until God gets all of the hurting people together.  But the children are today with their heavenly Father.  And that’s a start.
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Death of Children
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