THE LAST RIVER MILE

I hear all the cliches and I use them often…We should focus on what we as human beings have in common; we have more that unites us than divides us; we are all one human family, etc. And yet here we are, acting as if every big and little thing that separates us from one another is a life-or-death dealbreaker. We can zero in on common basic human needs: food, water, shelter, safety, belonging, and all that. But most of our current cultural energy and certainly our cyberspace energy seems to feed off of differences right now.

So what do we really have in common that would be genuinely uniting. What’s powerful enough to push back against the “us/them” tidal wave currently consuming us?

For me, as an often struggling buy always pressing-on follower of Jesus, it’s really simple. Simple, but I suppose too “out there” or “unrealistic” for many to take it seriously. God is love. (I John 4:8.) This is not just any kind of love. It’s not erotic, personal pleasure type love, wonderful as that can be. It’s not just familial love, as powerful as that is. It’s not fraternal love, born among people with common interests, values, and aims. It is totally self-sacrificing love. It is love that does whatever it takes for the other to be embraced and to thrive. It is crucifying-cross-level love. We human beings are made in God’s image. (Genesis 1:26-27.) The implant of God is on us. Among other things, this means we are designed to give and receive this God-defined love that is in us. No matter how much life, history, sin (both individual and corporate) have done to try to erase this image or to separate us from it, God’s love image is still there.

If this is really true (and I’m just off the wall enough to believe it is) it is monumental. This means that everything we have concocted all through human history to set ourselves apart from one another, to judge one another, to harm one another, to oppress one another is all a massive lie. All that we have assumed are immutable divisions among us are wrong. That which unites us is love. Not a sappy emotion, but a foundational God-designed identity.

What would change if we really believed that the thing we’re supposed to be and the thing we’re supposed to do is that which we were all created to be and to do? The late Christian leader and writer Brennan Manning was once asked what he would do if he had his life to live over. He responded that he would abandon a lot of the complexities, pressures, and anxious busyness and “just do the next thing in love.” What if he’s right?

I’ll see you around the next bend in the river.