This past week and a half I have been really sick. Frustratingly sick. I was exposed to the flu, and a few days later tested positive for the flu. And it was rough. This is not how I wanted to spend these past several days. I was in bed with barely the energy or voice to speak for several days. And today, as the fog of the flu starts to lift, I am not impressed and at times appalled with what I am hearing from several of the speeches as part of today's Inauguration events, but I am impressed, in particular with our Senator Amy Klobuchar.
I hope you can hear this as non-partisan, because that is the spirit in which I offer it. I am impressed with the grace with which people from both sides of the aisle have carried throughout the day. There is real respect and encouragement that government can move forward in the midst of real difference of opinion. This does give me hope.
This is not to minimize the policies and opinions that the current (and at times the previous) administration is promoting that goes against my Christian faith. This is also not to endorse any of the newly elected and appointed lawmakers and advisors to the president. But this does serve as a reminder that at the end of the day, people are people. And people can find common ground. And we must hold to hope that people can, and do change.
Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the leader who shows us what it looks like to follow faith into politics. I believe strongly in a separation of church and state, as institutions. However, the institutions are maintained by people. And people can and should be involved in both. Our faith compels us to advocate for a government that seeks wholeness and wellness for all people. I offer Martin Luther King Jr.'s own words to the church as he challenges followers of Jesus to engage in the political process.
