Wednesday, June 3, 2020
“He tore down the wall we used to keep each other at a distance. He repealed the law code that had become so clogged with fine print and footnotes that it hindered more than it helped. Then he started over. Instead of continuing with two groups of people separated by centuries of animosity and suspicion, he created a new kind of human being, a fresh start for everybody.” (Ephesians 2: 14 – 15, The Message Bible) 

                “There will be peace in the valley.”

                As some of you know, over the last several years our two Australian Shepherds, Charlie and Kramer, have not gotten along which is putting it mildly. When it all started, we had many fights that were no holds barred, claws out, fangs snapping and blood spilled. A lot of that blood was mine when I tried foolishly to intervene, resulting in trips to hospital and doctors. One time, I became seriously sick with a serious bout of blood infection for which I was on an IV of antibiotics for a few weeks.

                We couldn’t bear parting with either dog, so we ended up separating them, one upstairs and the other downstairs, switching them around every so often so that one of them was having human company while the other chilled out. If Kramer so much as spied Charlie, even through a glass door, he would go ballistic. Although it was somewhat of a nuisance, this dividing arrangement worked for quite a while until finally Kramer began making such a fuss about being by himself that we had to figure out a new system of separation.

                Even when we put them in the kennel when we would go away, they both were in different cages adding to the cost of boarding. Interestingly though, we discovered that despite their mutual mistrust and dislike, they did like being in adjacent kennel compartments. They may have hated each other, but hey, they were family! But at home, we kept them very, very separate.

                This past year, we began to experiment with having both dogs on the same ground floor level at the same time, now separated only by dog gates. To our surprise, there were no attempted altercations, although Charlie was a little unnerved, at first.  In fact, in the mornings the two began to go outside together. Then a just a couple of weeks ago, I removed the barriers and so far, so good. The two now get along and are often found lying not far from each other or are mooching together when one of us is eating. We pray it lasts as it is so much easier to have two dogs who get along.

                The above text came quickly to mind in light of the racial violence we are watching on TV. We have seen a president wave a Bible around carelessly proving that you can lead a president to the Word  but you can’t make him drink. Never mind him for now.  If we are truly motivated by the example of Jesus Christ then the love of others, even and especially loving those who seem different, is an essential core value for peacemaking and breaking down divisions and walls. This Christly Love is more than a cheap photo-op.

                This love is not sentimental, soft-hearted drivel. Christ-like Love is one of justice, respect, tolerance, acceptance, benevolence, kindness, and doing good. 

                Let’s make this Love more than abstract; let’s make it real. I sometimes wonder what I would do if I saw someone, a person of colour, being racially abused in some way.  Would I have the loving grit to intervene and confront the racist and risk being told where I could go or being attacked myself? Or would I choose to slink off, not wanting to get involved and only think how terrible it was? (Remember the priest and the Levite in the parable of the Good Samaritan?)

                I regret the actions of a few who are turning the protests into violence. It means that a lot of folk, probably mostly white, who are missing the point of the protests, that Afro-Americans, in particular, are frequently victims of police brutality and targeting. We should not be smug in Canada, for racial inequality exists here also. The slogan, “Black Lives Matter” is a poignant reminder that too often our black brothers and sisters do not matter in a culture deeply divided by race.

                Christly Love is the best response to this problem. It will take time, patience, intense, intentional efforts, the not-so-easy facilitation of good will, a serious building up of trust and respect if the walls of hatred, prejudice and fear are to come tumbling down. If our two old dogs can do it, so can we! All of us have the responsibility of taking down the barriers and making peace. “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5: 9)

             There will be peace in the valley for me, for me.

Well, the bear will be gentle;

And the wolves will be tame,

And the lion shall lay down by the lamb, oh yes.

And the beasts from the wild

Shall be led by a child.

And I'll be changed, changed from this creature that I am, oh yes.

There will be peace in the valley for me, some day.

There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray.

Dale