On January 6 2021
Reconciliation Is A Spiritual Process
by Eric Elkin
John Wilkes Booth thought the world would view him as a hero when he assassinated President Lincoln. With Lincoln out of the way, he thought, people in the North would be free to join the Southern cause. His personal rage completely blinded him from reality.
Booth was still in hiding when Lincoln's Funeral Train made its journey from Washington, D.C. to Springfield, Illinois. He knew the people hated him. He discovered how much they loved the president. His act to liberate the oppressed failed.
Neither President Johnson nor President Grant was capable of leading the nation through a post-war reconciliation. The absence of strong, competent leadership allowed hatred to gain a foothold in the hearts of Americans. We still deal with the repercussions of this failure today.
Throughout history, single acts have turned the course of history. Yet, never has a single action solved anything. Nelson Mandela knew this when he was elected President of South Africa. He knew people would view his election as the end of the battle. He, on the other hand, knew the journey had only entered a new stage.
On Wednesday, January 6th, we watched a severe breach of American trust. Yet, this distrust has been brewing for some time in both liberal and conservative circles. Watching the U.S. Senate debate last night, I wondered will this be the single act that turns the course of history? Will we see the destructive path of 2020 and start working to reconcile our nation in 2021?
Nelson Mandela was right. Reconciliation is a spiritual process that happens in the hearts and minds of people. The events that unfolded in the nation's capital yesterday shine a light on the need for a healing process. It should also remind us, we, as people of faith, are the ones who have been called out by God to do this work.
As Paul wrote in his Second Letter to the Corinthians, "All of these new things are from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and who gave us the ministry of reconciliation." (2 Cor. 5:18) Paul wrote these words to a community gripped in conflict. He knew reconciliation was a spiritual process.
A new president will not automatically change the direction we are headed. An eloquent speech on the Senate floor will not turn the hearts and minds of a nation. A prayer on Facebook will be forgotten soon after it is posted. Our hearts and minds need to be committed to the long spiritual work of healing. At Advent UMC in Eagan, Minnesota, this is what we will be doing in 2021. I hope you decide to join us on the journey.
Click to read 2 Corinthians 5: 16-21
Reflection Questions:
What can you do to begin the process of reconciliation?