New Day is Here

Dear Family,

I realize that this blog might cause some waves, but i ask that any and all to read to the end. Please do not stop after one paragraph or sentence, but take in the totality of what i feel moved to write about. It is a new day for America, a new and glorious day. A day where we can begin to dream about a world where we do live in peace and not fear. Today is a new day, a day of hope, a day of promise.

Why? Because President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize this morning. This is monumental. It is key. And as one of the historic peace churches, this should be a sign, for us, that the Gospel of Peace, one which we adhere to, has the possibility to coming true. I dont want to talk about presidential politics or policies or even universal healthcare. That is not why i am blogging this morning. I am writing out of my own sense of joy and excitement, and i hope it can be shared by all.

No president had to face what President Bush faced. Within nine months of his first term as president, a bunch of radical jihadists crashed planes into buildings, proclaiming God's justice. And it put a new president, still trying to find his way, into the international spot light. If he acted too slow, the warhawkish citizens, seeking revenge, would scream that Bush was too soft, too weak to lead us. If he acted too quickly, the left leaning peace activist, such as was the case at Bethany Theological Seminary, would proclaim Bush was acting out of malice, and that Bush needed to be more patient. Give diplomacy a chance. Some even went so far as to blame Bush for the attacks, suggesting that our foreign policies created the 9/11 catastrophe.

I found solace in neither camp. But now, here we are, eight years later, and the war in Afghanistan shows no signs of stopping. The war in Iraq has claimed thousands of lives. Our sons and daughters have given their lives, sacrificing for what they believe in, and it has to stop. But not only our children, but the children of Afghani citizens and Iraqui citizens, those who never supported the Taliban or Hussein, find themselves running for shelter as suicide bombers kill more and more, without caring who they kill. Thousands upon thousands are the victims of these two wars.

But the ripples continued outward. The overall sentiment, towards Americans, was incredibly low. We were, whether you care or not is another discussion, hated by most people in the world. The sentiment was incredibly low, and as i traveled, internationally, twice during these eight years, i can attest, from personal experience, that Americans were not accepted nor looked favorably upon. We were quickly becoming the ire of most of the world. Why?

Because most of the world viewed us imperialist trying to force an ideology upon the rest of the world, especially those parts of the world which promised a huge gain for us--oil in Iraq for example. So we were hated, well more specifically our government was despised. It was so bad that in 2003, when i traveled to Germany, right before the invasion of Iraq, we were warned not to go to Europe, because we would not be welcomed. Needless to say, our image, internationally, was tainted. But now that has changed.

I dont care which side of the fence you find yourself, or if you find yourself on either side, but when a political leader is awarded a prize for making peace, in a world being ripped a part by violence, oppression, and war, then it has to give us hope. I empathize with President Bush. He made choices out of his desire to protect American interests. He is a patriot with deep roots in the American ethos. But my allegiance, my identity, my pledge is not, first, to America, it is to Jesus. And Jesus calls me to love my enemies and pray for those that persecute me.

Loving my enemies makes it hard to fight them. Praying for those that persecute me empowers me to love them. And when i seek peace, instead of violence, i create spaces for healing and reconciliation. Today is a good day for all Americans. We are closer to having peace, living in peace, and being peaceful than we have been in eight years. I dont blame President Bush for the wars. I blame hate and religious zealots for the wars. And President Obama doesn't deserve all the credit for laying foundations for peace. He has a slew of advisors helping him see the world differently.

But the groundwork has been laid, and peace is possible. That is something we, as peacemakers, should all celebrate. Today Americans are seen favorably in the world. Which is to say that through the efforts of diplomacy and working towards healing with our Muslims friends, the world sees America as being that leader in peacemaking. Something our world needs desperately. And for that, we all should shout, AMEN!

Shalom,
jerry

I realize that this might, or at least i hope it does, cause some great conversations about why peace is important. I hope, down deep, that it doesnt become a political debate. I am not writing this to support Obama. I am writing this to support peace and the possibility of peace. Please offer insights, thoughts, and questions. Thank you for being the most amazing brothers and sisters i could ask for...