Broken Love

I was a high school freshman,  at a week-long camp. The theme of the week was hope. Someone got creative with a break out session and it changed my life.   We walked into a dark room, our hands were zip tied in front of us, and we were forced to sit in silence. We then heard a story about a hopeless situation and how Jesus brought hope into it. Again, they left us in a dark room in silence. They had a pair of scissors up front and told us that when we were ready to let go of all the fear, anger, and sadness that we were carrying and hold on to the hope we have in Jesus, then we could come and cut off our bonds. We all sat in stunned silence, then the tears started to flow. Girls and boys, freshman and seniors... we all broke down. We were all carrying something. Living in darkness and feeling trapped. One by one we started to get up and cut off our bonds and step outside into the light. Some jumped at the chance to be freed, others refused. They weren't ready. God was still working

Unity.  This word has been convicting me this month. There is SO much dividing us, pulling us away from each other, away from our mission, away from God. What would life look like if we shifted focus from fighting for our beliefs and rights and focused on fighting FOR those God has placed in our kingdom? I'm not saying to become a door mat or give up our beliefs (believe me, enneagram 8 here... I like to fight for what I believe in), but I am saying that we can stop defining those around us by the labels we have given them and simply seek to understand their heart.  Ask questions, listen, and see each person through the lens of knowing that just like you, they have a life and stories that have shaped how they see the world. Often those stories hold pain, fear, and hurt. Doesn't yours? I know mine does. If THIS is how Christians responded in conflicting situations, seeking to UNDERSTAND first and be RIGHT later, I don't think the world would know what to do.  Philippians 2:3