Friday, Nov. 8, 2024
Dear Friends in Christ,
I am writing to you, the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire, my fellow disciples, with a reflection on the results of the 2024 general election.
The original twelve disciples of Jesus were a mixed bag to say the least. Politically they were all over the map. At one end, at least one of them hoped Jesus would foment an armed and religious rebellion against the occupying military force of Rome. On the other far end was Matthew, who had made himself comfortable by collecting taxes from his own oppressed people to fund the empire that was both feared and despised. There was probably a wide middle among the others who just saw in Jesus something they’d never seen before and wanted more of. And the women who followed the Rabbi were not of one mind or of one experience in their own relationship to their families, their society, or even to Jesus.
As I have come to know the disciples of the Church in New Hampshire, I sense we too are a mixed bag politically. Like the original band, we are all over map. We are socially liberal and conservative— though, let’s be honest, if we are purple, we are more “blue” purple than “red” purple. Most of us are careful about how we spend or invest our dollars. Most of us are reticent and respectful to the views of others. Many march and demonstrate in solidarity for the countless who suffer in this world. Most prefer to make their views known on these matters in the privacy of the kitchen or the ballot booth. Most of the New Hampshire Episcopalians I know, or who make themselves known to me, have very nuanced and sophisticated views that would not be fully reflected on either MSNBC or Fox News. They may tune into either, neither, or both. But the Jesus followers I know here are skeptical of extremes and are comfortable with “yes, but” or “on the other hand.” And, characteristically, here I’ll hedge my bets and add, by and large. There are strong voices on the outer poles of the spectrum, of course, and, believe me, I hear them.
We seek to love because we know love is of God and love is our path to God. As St. Paul saw, without love, all our prophecies, statements, speeches, and pronouncements are but noisy gongs and clanging cymbals.
Our world is not much different now than it was a week ago. There remain deep divisions within our society about financial, social, and foreign policies. There remain wide disparities in educational and economic opportunities. God speaks loudly to us with the effects of our mistreatment of the planet and each other. Hostility around race, gender, and immigration status continues. As one who allows that God still chastens those whom God loves, I even believe that God speaks to us in our present political failures, on the part of both parties, to bring healing to our persistent injuries. If we are a nation “under God” then may God have mercy on us for how we treat one another, our children, and the planet.
What has been revealed of late is deeply concerning to all of us: the anger, the hatred, the unabashed crudeness and impoliteness. If these elements of our society are given full vent, may our love for each other as a Church, especially for those who trouble or irritate us, imitate the love and kindness of our Savior. May the world know this church as a band of disciples, flawed, imperfect, often ragged, but always guided by a love that seek the face of God in our neighbor and ourselves.
We may not like it—I know I often do not like it at all—but the Twenty-Third Psalm reminds us that it is none other than the Good Shepherd who leads us out of desolate valleys to find our place at a table among those who trouble us, even our enemy. That’s how God brings about the Kingdom. Would that it were as simple as casting a vote behind a screen. But it’s not.
Our following the Good Shepherd, our Teacher, and our Lord Savior in the time ahead of us will be much harder than that—and infinitely more beautiful and real. I pray we embrace our life together with the faith, hope, and love that God has given us.
Yes, the work is hard and yes, I know we are all tired. Job number one is to take care of ourselves and each other. Love and reconciliation is the work of God, not the result of our striving and our fist shaking. We do not produce good fruit from the flood of fear/anger/grief that propels us to burn out, but from our wholehearted selves, rooted deeply in the presence of Christ. There is a Buddhist adage: “Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.” A similar adage for us Jesus followers: “Before salvation, make your bed, brush your teeth, smile at your family. After salvation, make your bed, brush your teeth, smile at your family.” And may God hold us.
Bishop Rob Hirschfeld