They will know this by our love

It’s Wednesday night and the church building in my tiny town in this swath of the Midwest seems to be hopping, even though it’s one of the smaller ones in town. As children practice learning the fruit of patience by playing silent ball and memory, the English Language Learners group, a mix of refugees and the women who have come together to teach them, meets in the next room. In​ the basement gym, a combined group of teenagers from two different churches play a rowdy game of mannequin challenge after coming together for a time of mutual fellowship. Upstairs in the sanctuary, the choir practices the songs they will be singing in the coming weeks’ services while just beyond the sanctuary doors the stage is set to help families in need on Thursday morning through Norwalk Area Ministerial Association’s “Warrior Giving Project,” with clothing, paper goods, and all sorts of donated toiletries and the like covering every available surface.

This is the stage that is set at the church that I have called my other home for the past several years.

In a world where it has been proclaimed that organized religion is dying and there is a huge amount of distrust in institutions, there is life here in this little church. There is hope and patience, peace and kindness, love and joy, goodness and faith. There are stories to be told and magic to make.

Yet, there’s still issues in my little church, just as there are in any other church. Some would say we’re “not churchy” enough, radical in the way some of us work towards learning to accept all people, no matter their race, views, sexual orientation, or walk of life. Others would counter we aren’t doing enough for certain issues, clamoring to do more. Others wish we were “less political” and not speaking out for or against the issues that go on in this divisive world.

We may not agree on all of the same issues and we may come from vast ends of the political spectrum, but there is a common thread in my little church. We love fiercely, coming forward to fill the needs of the community in which we live and trying to make sure that ALL means ALL when anyone steps through the doors. We all try our best to work together, perhaps even stepping on each other’s toes in the process. And judging by the flurry of activity that went on this past Wednesday night, we’re doing okay. Could we have more members? Sure. Could we learn to do better and be better? Sure. But we are all human and all of us are doing what we can with what we know and what we learn to discern.

“We will work with each other, we will work side by side / And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride / And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love / Yeah, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”

~ Father Peter Scholtes “They’ll Know We Are Christians”

In a world where it feels like some Christians are known as judgmental, may we strive to be known for joy.

In a world where it seems some Christians condemn others, may we learn to be peace.

In a world where people are excluded from their church buildings because of who they are and what they have done, may we learn to be hope.

In a world where it seems religions are dying, may we be known for our love.

For that is part of the magic in which we were created, that wonderful story that was written.

Be known for your love, so that they will know by our love.

Stay magical.

Keep writing.

---

If you liked this blog post, comment below! Share with others, if you dare. Subscribe to my blog for updates! Visit my “About me” page if you want to contact me.

If you wanted to see some of the fantasy books I have written, check out my Portals Series. My serial novel is available for free on this blog here.

If you are interested in my other online endeavors, check out the drop down menu to see more.

And as always, #writeyourownstory