A season of chaos in our national government

We are without argument in a season of chaos in our national government. We knew from the election results in November that there would be change after the inauguration. And indeed there has been, fast and furious. Some are delighted with the changes in policy and the promise of more to come. Others are quite the opposite and are expressing their discontent in many and varied ways, some of which are receiving a great deal of news coverage of their loud outcries of protest. Many are bewildered with the events of the weeks since the oath of office placed a new administration in charge, and are just being swept along with the tide, not able to even react reasonably. I think it is safe to say that most Americans, and others around the world, are on full alert, waiting to see what will happen next and struggling to interpret what it all means for our future in the United States and on planet Earth.

I believe it is fair to say that is the state that God desires us to be in ? fully alert, watching carefully what is happening around us, trying to discern what is the truth in all the noise, and what will endure moving forward. Jesus tells his disciples (those who sat literally at his feet during his time on earth and those of us who try to follow him today) to beware of false prophets and to be ready to recognize him when he enters into our world and even into our own personal lives. It is a task given to each and every one of us, not to be passed off to others to lighten our load. God created us as persons in his own image with free will to choose the paths we will follow. We are fortunate enough to live in a nation that values freedom and paves the way for us to continue the search for truth and the best ways forward in many and varied forms. But those gifts are best used when we honor each other by truly listening to what each is saying and seeking to uncover God?s Word to us from among the voices.

May we pray concertedly that God will continue to bless us and give us courage to step forward in the midst of confusion and uncertainty to exercise our freedom to speak of our understanding of truth to each other, and even more to genuinely listen to each other, working together for the sake of the greatest good for us all.