Friends, what a remarkable time to be alive, what a privilege in days like this to be able to bear witness to the reality of the Risen, Living Christ and the God Who Is Love and the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus that is utterly different from any human kingdom, state, or government. These are days when King Jesus and his way shine bright in contrast with the way the world works, has always worked, and is still working every day in our day.  Our vocation as Christians does not change with the news cycle or when “Breaking News” scrolls in a red banner across our devices.

Our vocation as Christians is to know how much we are loved by God and love others freely, especially the other and the enemy. It is to ask that the Holy Spirit would so fill us that we regularly become the presence of Jesus in the world, literally his hands and feet, in the concrete circumstances of our everyday lives, loving those we encounter along the way. Our vocation as followers of Jesus is “Abide in me”, so that we bear much fruit. (Jn 15.5)  Our vocation is to pray often, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth…” and then be answers to that prayer. Amen! We get to do this! In times like these! Amazing. Praise God. Let us be good stewards of the times we live in.

Recently on our For the Journey podcast I had the joy of a long conversation with Ekemini Uwan –author, speaker, human rights advocate– on Finding Hope in Turbulent Times. If you’re struggling to breathe in these days, don’t forget my recent offering “For Troubled Times: The Contemplative Life and Practices”.  And, next week in our newsletter, don’t miss Scott Buresh’s lovely reflection, “Cultivating Hope that Does Not Disappoint.”