Kingdom Building

September 17, 2019

Is there no balm in Gilead?
   Is there no physician there?
Why then has the health of my poor people
   not been restored?

O that my head were a spring of water,
   and my eyes a fountain of tears,
so that I might weep day and night
   for the slain of my poor people! –Jeremiah 8:22-9:1

I do not understand how our country has become overtaken by trite words and phrases that in no way describe the systemic problems we are called to address to assure the Common Good. We do not seem to want to dig past these surfaces and deal with the real problems threatening things like our health care. We treat them like Friday night football against our archrivals. I am a sports fan an enjoying cheering my favorite teams but that is a totally different situation from trying to address the Common Good. As a participant in a democracy we are called to take the time to determine what is best for the nation and each person who is a part of it. We all perceive the needs based on our own perspective. I know we see the issues. I see social media post, even TV pleas, asking for donations to pay for health care for special, heart rending cases, but they are just the tip of the iceberg.

We must learn to share our perspectives with others while hearing their ideas and find the common ground that makes sense to provide for the Common Good. Negotiations, compromise, and give and take are all required. We the people are responsible for what happens in our nation. I have recently seen videos where two opposing teams worked together to allow a player with handicapping conditions to know the joy of scoring. Our teens may have a better handle on the Common Good than the adults.

Truth is there are solutions to the problems we face. We certainly do not know all the answers; I am sure we do not even know all the problems. We do know some interventions that work. God equipped us with brains to search for and find other answers. What we lack is the will. What we lack is the willingness to see that greed is a primary roadblock to progress. There is a balm in Gilead there are physicians, people just cannot afford them.

Prayer: Lord, when you walked upon the earth you healed many people. Make us healers also. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.