Let the divisions fall

Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States of America, once paraphrased a verse that shows up in three different Gospels when he spoke at the Illinois Republican State Convention, in Springfield, Illinois on the 16th of June, 1858:

“A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

It was a quote Jesus gave, according to Matthew (12:25), Mark (3:25) and Luke (11:17), in reference to Pharisees accusing him of doing the work of Satan when he cast demons out of people.

It’s fitting I’m writing about this and posting this blog today, 4 July, the day of independence for the United States. Our country seems hell-bent on division these days instead of unity, on keeping people and ideas separate instead of finding ways to promote cohesion. Anywhere one looks, it seems we are a house divided.

After all, differences manifest into ways that put some people at odds with others. Take a look at the political, religious, or socio-economical divides that are shaping countries. Many stick to their own kinds, finding people who are just as like-minded as they are about issues and rejecting anyone who isn’t. Whole social media groups are devoted to bashing people who may not be like they, calling for harassment and boycotts over differences. everywhere one looks, there are rampant divisions that seem to be growing larger every day.

But there’s also some gaps being bridged. There are some who try to find harmony. There are some trying to work their magic to promote peace.

For example, this past month, I have read about so many “former bigots” who have learned to not only let their hatred of the LGTBQIA+ community fall to the wayside, but have become staunch allies for the community, working to educate others that people are more similar than different. I know of a group in a Christian church that is working to help Somalian Muslim refugees and other immigrants learn English and become United States citizens without pressuring any of them to convert to have this opportunity. They have found friendships despite the differences in language, in culture, in socioeconomic status, and in religion.

If one looks hard enough, they see that there are those trying to find compromise in a world where compromises seem to be passee. Maybe the world isn’t so divisive after all.

Maybe if we stop looking for how we are different from each other, we can find ways in which are differences are actually similarities. Maybe we can find a way to unify ourselves in the world and become a house united. Maybe, just maybe, we can learn to compromise again in harmony and love each other.

Wouldn’t that make our stories magical?

Let the divisions fall, dear magical friends. Choose peace. Seek harmony. Be the change you wish to see in the world.

I know I will try.

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