The opening words of the third chapter of Ecclesiastes offer profound wisdom, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
We find ourselves in two seasons at the same time. The first is the season of COVID-19. The second is the season in which the world has finally embraced the absolute necessity of dismantling racism and moving toward a new vision of living as a reconciled people. We are called to make a difference in these seasons as Jesus’ followers. Not by following conventional wisdom, but by living the Jesus’ way.
This means we go slow as we deal with COVID-19. The pandemic is not over. In fact, it’s entered a new and dangerous stage. Like you, I long to transcend Zoom and gather face-to-face with sisters and brothers in faith to pray, worship, study and serve. But Jesus’ commandment to love our neighbor means we go slowly––making sure we do it with our masks on.
On the other hand, living the Jesus’ way means we go fast in addressing racial injustice that has been on hold too long. We must go fast in coming to grips with how racism is part and parcel of our culture, government, the private sector and the church. We must go fast as we address our role in it, as hard as that may be to do. And we must go fast as we seek to live as a reconciled community in which ethnicity and race are not dividers, but wonderful gifts within the Body of Christ.
We have important seasonal work to do. There is a place for all of us to make a difference.
For God’s sake, let’s show the world how to go slow and how to go fast.
Bishop Gary Mueller
Bishop Gary Mueller. (Photo Courtesy of UM Men)
Bishop Gary Mueller (Arkansas Area) serves as vice president of the General Commission on United Methodist Men. This article is republished with permission from the UM Men's August newsletter.