2023-01-07 A Meditation on People We Dismiss
“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,” (Heb 5:12 ESV)
What we disdain, what we dismiss, where we leave and seek alternate shelter: in each of these the universe is at our bidding. The universe for the Christian is there found: find the humanity on display; know your own testimony and see if it is applicable; study and do not think yourselves superior to laboring in these vineyards that are gifted to you, that are some God’s bequest.
Flourishing. The Christian is not tried beyond her or his mettle, but is given space to grow, to explore, to learn, to thrive. This includes things “beneath us”. The rambunctious warmongering of a newly discovered acquaintance. The threats against our person or the cold Wild West of thieving and dismissing and making strange but sharp breaks. To make a break is to exercise a priestly office, that is, as Christians, as Church people, all we revolve around is pictures of sin and of righteousness. If we dismiss someone or something, it is because we discern sin. We dismiss the sin, but love the sinner.
In this is a republican mindset to live and let live, to give to our charges or children space to grow. To flourish. To be protected from the aped interlocutor, the warmonger, the less cultivated or less educated. For, education is in the school of life, and our passivity is something to marvel at, to label “strange”, to give thanks for, yet also to realize, though ourselves converted, not everyone is. There will be lashing out and warmongering. There will be new battles that we would like to wish away, passing them off to a good Father in Heaven. “Surely you don’t intend me to stoop to this level?” “Surely you know I won’t win that fight?”
Win we shall, by adopting what we dismiss and disdain as a perfect petri dish for the Gospel to foment in. Oh, are these the twelve that the Lord has given me? In this life, is it here that I shall say, “No matter! Soldier on!”? Is it with sympathy that we meet as though cautious but brave the recalcitrant warmonger, the bully, the frustrated and convicted one. For we do not patronize; we acknowledge some war too great for us. But also we are bequeathed via heavenly blessing a bird’s-eye view, and insight, and compassion, and love, and friendly jesting: these, too, reassure me that my spiritual labors have not been in vain, for through their lens I see these now as fellow-travelers-to-be!