(Non-political) WISDOM!

"But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace."

(James 3:17-18)

{NOTE: This was written in October... I'm just getting around to updating my blog.}

We're in a presidential election year. And it has been C..R..A..Z..Y!!! Politics and campaigns have long-since had negative advertising and inflammatory rhetoric. But we've never seen anything like what we've seen THIS year! Dynasty, Saturday Night Live, even Hollywood couldn't have scripted what we've experienced this election. Many in this country are left shaking their heads about how low it seems our nation has sunk.

And then I read this passage from the book of James. "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy." There's so much wisdom here. It starts with PURITY. In thought, word, and action. We ALL have a long way to go here. But it's something we should be striving for. And second, we need to be PEACEABLE (ie. not inflammatory, antagonistic, or degrading to one another). Are we acting with GENTLENESS? Being aware of others' feelings and psyche? Are we WILLING TO YIELD when the situation calls for it? Or are we stuck in our own opinions & feelings, unresolved to budge an inch, or even admit we might not have all the answers? Are we trying to remain IMPARTIAL without HYPOCRISY? Nobody's perfect, of course, but this is what God is calling us to. And the author of James remind us that it all comes down to MAKING PEACE.

I just started watching a new TV series: "Designated Survivor" (ABC). It's the story of a US cabinet member who is the only survivor of a terrorist attack on Congress & the President. He's suddenly thrust into a position (as the new president) that he never wanted, nor prepared for. It's amazing how much more humanity, grace, dignity and vulnerability I see in this fictitious president than in the craziness we've seen in our current campaign.

May I begin to embody this (non-political) wisdom of James!