File

File

Minister’s Message: Share God’s love even amidst disagreement

We as a society have been overcome by reactive emotions, making us slow to reflect and quick to speak/act and it is hurting one another

By Rev. Karen Martin Tichenor

Last week the Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision. Before you jump to conclusions, I invite you to stay with me here.

It isn’t the decision that I want to talk about or debate but our attitudes and actions toward one another at this time in the midst of that decision and its fallout.

Our scripture tells us in Galatians 5:14b-15: “ … Love your neighbor as yourself. If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.”

Whenever we come to emotional issues like this decision, we tend toward closing our ears to God and instead forge ahead no matter what — speaking our piece without thought of love for the other. Few of us have taken a breath after hearing our neighbor speak their opinion, asked God for the wisdom of how to respond and then proceeded. Sadly, we begin wounding one another thinking that our thoughts and actions are the “right” ones, which is a definition of self-righteousness within Christendom and not the way of God.

It isn’t an easy thing to shut one’s mouth before a word flies out, relax our hands and shoulders before any actions move forth, but that is what God calls us to do. Consult the Holy One before advancing and follow God’s directives instead of your own. Consider the foundation of our faith in action — which is to love one another. How is what you are going to say or do showing God’s love to the other?

We as a society have been overcome by reactive emotions, making us slow to reflect and quick to speak/act and it is hurting one another. With the pandemic we have been experiencing our feelings, our hurt in isolation, which tends to make it worse because we dwell on it and don’t have others to work through them. This is unhealthy.

We need to work on reconnecting with one another not around “electric” issues like abortion, not at first, but around our everyday feelings and experiences. When we improve in the everyday connections that remind us we are all children of God, then we can more easily remember to breathe, and discuss our differences of opinion without having to be right and convince the other to our way of thinking. We learn to love that different other.

I invite you in this highly charged time to stop, take a deep breath, hold it and then slowly let it out. Let your mind slow down and your shoulders drop, relax. When you are taking in that next breath, ask God to guide you as you listen to the other and find that place between you that still allows you to care for the other.

Love is not a hallmark card. That is sentimentality.

Love in God is an active verb of being and doing. It changes lives to the good.

It is OK to agree to disagree. And, let peace/love be between you.

Rev. Karen Martin Tichenor is a pastor at Soldotna United Methodist Church, 158 S. Binkley St., Soldotna. Sunday worship at 10 a.m. Soldotna Food Pantry Wednesdays 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Contact 907-262-4657.

More in Life

File
Minister’s Message: Living in the community of faith

Many of us tend to stay within our own denomination for purposes of what we consider to be purity of doctrine.

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Artwork by Susan Nabholz, Charlotte Coots and Chelline Larsen is displayed as part of “Fiber” at the Kenai Art Center on Wednesday.
Focus on fiber

Kenai Art Center show transforms threads to art

The Palm Springs Limelight-News used this photo in 1946 to announce the start of the Alaska Photographic Expedition, guided by Keith McCullagh (left) for his expedition partner and photographer, Harry Reed.
Mostly separate lives: The union and disunion of Nellie and Keith — Part 5

After a bankruptcy, a divorce and an 18-year absence from Alaska, Louis Keith McCullagh headed north on vacation.

These cupcakes are dense, more like brownies than traditional cupcakes, and are chock full of chocolate. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
‘Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate’ with some sprinkles

These cupcakes are dense, more like brownies than traditional cupcakes, and are chock full of chocolate.

Sophie Thatcher is Iris in “Companion.” (Promotional photo courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures)
On the Screen: ‘Companion’ provides an entertaining critique of digital romance

There are interesting ideas here about what human connection looks like in a world where people are increasingly siloed away into digital spaces.

Mark Jurek directs the Soldotna High School band at a rehersal on Oct. 11, 2022 at Soldotna High School in Soldotna Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
SoHi jazz band and swing choir fundraiser concert set for Feb. 11

The show will feature SoHi’s jazz band, swing choir, “several vocal soloists” and a variety of cheesecakes.

Virginia Walters (Courtesy photo)
Life in the Pedestrian Lane: January’s done

This has been the strangest January I can remember, and to hear others, apparently it’s pretty unprecedented.

This 1931 photograph from the Wrangell Sentinel shows the Wrangell public school where Jean Hofstad (the former Nellie McCullagh) taught during the 1940s.
Mostly separate lives: The union and disunion of Nellie and Keith — Part 4

The two members of what the Cordova Daily Times had once called a “popular young couple” began carving out separate lives.

Galbi jjim, or braised beef short ribs, are prepared for lunar new year and celebrate the year of the snake. (Photo by Tressa Dale/Peninsula Clarion)
Beginning the year of the snake

The lunar new year took place Wednesday, Jan. 29.

Most Read