A Step Forward

July 2020 Blog by Mark Laskey ~ On July 4 we’ll celebrate the 244^th birthday of the United States of America. It’s a day when many reflect on our Founding Fathers, our Constitution and our Bill of Rights. It’s also a time to give thanks for the freedoms we enjoy as Americans.

However, events of the past few weeks and months have clearly focused a spotlight on issues that should give us pause and call for our collective attention. It’s clear that there are some very serious problems that demand careful reflection, discernment and action.

Recommendations from some of the world’s leading health care experts regarding the pandemic are increasingly being ignored by some and seen as some sort of infringement on their rights. Does anyone have the right to exercise their personal freedom at the cost of someone else’s health and or death?

The recent demonstrations regarding racism in our country have highlighted numerous examples that many Americans do not receive equal treatment by our criminal justice system. What ever happened to “all men are created equal”? When justice is denied we all suffer.

The collapse of our economy has hurt countless Americans who no longer have the means to support themselves and their families. And too often examples of greed seem to be driving our economic policies.

I can’t ever remember our country being so divided. The lack of civility, the inability to respect others who don’t agree with our opinions, and a government that can’t seem to govern and guide us is lamentable. Where do we go from here?

By embracing Centering Space’s invitation to renew, refresh and refocus we each can take a step forward in formulating and articulating our individual responses to the huge issues we face as citizens of our country and the world. None of us has all of the answers. It’s only by being willing to work together for the common good that we can follow Jesus’ call to love one another as ourselves and, in the end, that’s what’s going to matter.