This Week from Mitch

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Denise and I leave our Christmas trees up for the full 12 days of Christmas. This morning, I came downstairs and found myself looking at a purple, green, and gold umbrella ornament at the bottom of our tree. I was filled with sadness for the city of New Orleans, which my family once called home, a city that, despite its flaws, has a culture and beauty that makes it special to us. My heart breaks for the families affected, the school communities, the mourners, and those whose injuries will impact the rest of their lives. For them and all victims of violence everywhere, I ask that you take some time today and offer a prayer–pray for peace.

One of our Christian responsibilities is to pray and work for peace. I know that I often make the mistake of thinking that violence is a far-off thing. I think of the war in Ukraine and/or violence in the Holy Land, knowing full well that those things are much larger than anything I can change. These prayers feel good while allowing me to stay in my bubble of relative safety and ignorance. Tragedies like the one in New Orleans pop those bubbles of safety and remind me that the need for peace can sometimes exist right in front of us.

Now, I do not want to suggest that acts of kindness and prayers for peace could have prevented tragedies like this. Life is much more complicated than that. I do, however, want to say that what we project out into the world magnifies itself. Hate makes more hate, and love makes more love. What we put out into the world matters.

Today, Denise and I will continue to mourn and process, but we will do so carefully and with intention. We will also try to make offerings of peace, starting with sharing of our feelings of gratitude to those who keep our cities and country safe. 

I want to try to tip the scale of my life towards being more peaceful, more loving, and more compassionate. This year, I am going to do my best to eliminate words like "I hate that," or words of violence from my vocabulary. I want to be more thoughtful. Again, I can't say and am not saying that such actions would change anything that has happened. I will simply do them because I believe love builds love and hate builds hate. In a rage-filled world, my Christian responsibility to be a person of love may not mean much to all, but it might mean something to some, and that is okay. After all, working for peace is supposed to be as personal as our baptism vow.

Please join me in praying for New Orleans. Please join me in praying for peace and working for love.

In Christ,

Mitch