A Time to Be Quiet

by

Special to United Methodist Insight

General Conference is scheduled to take place in less than a year. After the "Lack of Spirit in St. Louis" in 2019, a constant bombardment of rhetoric has assaulted and insulted us. We are clearly aware of deepening entrenchments into unmovable positions. Finger-pointing using accusatory statements “episcopal and institutional leadership" followed by judgmental observations continue unabated.  Strident screeches pollute the communication links with self-proclaimed victimhood.

We are rapidly becoming numb to the cacophony and are ready to say: "Enough already, we get it!" God loves each of us, yet we constantly seem to seek ways to refuse to love each other. Celebrating catching someone else in what we believe is "wrong" appears to be the primary goal of how to relate to others, and engaging in idolatry of worshipping buildings is clearly contrary to "transforming the world!" Even if we do not see eye-to-eye we still may be able to walk arm-in-arm.  

The theme of General Conference 2024  is  "... And know that I am God." How is God being shown if the goal of fights over who gets to be right is to say, "No, we are God?"  

Believing that nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:35-39), isn't it time to consider we stop separating from each other?  Called to show God's unconditional love, I believe that now it's time to be quiet.  

In deep despair, humble pain and profound sadness; I propose a moratorium, a cease-fire, on all confrontational efforts. The varying philosophies have been made crystal-clear; repeating them only serves to harden our hearts and minds.

May we use the next months before General Conference to anticipate the "sound of sheer silence" (I Kings 19:12 NRSV), secure in the knowledge that God is in control! I propose we mark this time of self-examination with the liturgical color purple, making it a prayer-filled season combining Advent and Lent preparing each of us as we wait for the Lord.

May we walk a mile in our siblings' moccasins, as a Native American proverb counsels. May all mortal flesh keep silent, as in the hymn, and may it begin with me.

Wil Meiklejohn is a certified lay minister in the Mountain Sky Annual Conference.