The Second Day of Christmas

"On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me, two turtle doves . . . ."

As I ate breakfast this morning, I was watching two turtle doves at the bird feeders just beyond the window of our dining room. Actually, the moment was something of an irony: turtle doves, long considered a sign of peace and goodwill, are 'ground feeders', they eat what other birds have rooted out or discarded from the feeders and let fall to the ground, and as these two were feeding on what was 'discarded by others' I read about the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader, Benazir Bhutto.

What is it about the human race that we are given the abundance of all the universe has to offer and, rather than celebrate what we have in common from the God who created us, we root through the good of all there is, seeking out only that which agrees with us, and let peace and goodwill fend for itself, living off the refuse of our decisions? I am not in a position, personally or politically, to make informed comments on Benazir Bhutto, but the senseless violence which permeates our world and assassinates alternative viewpoints of leadership, culture, social issues, religion, and economics, goes against the very essence of who God is and who we are called to be in relationship to God and each other, regardless of the religious tradition represented. It is as if some have found it easier to eliminate reasons for justice and peace than to sit at the same feeder and find viable ways to co-exist in mutual harmony: 'Let the doves eat our refuse, let peace live off what we do not want, while we muscle and bully each other for dominance.'

And life in the United States is not far removed from what we observe in Pakistan. The poor are becoming poorer, the powerless are becoming more powerless, and the differentiation between classes is becoming wider and wider. The Forbes list of the richest people in the world no longer includes any millionaires, only billionaires. Lazarus lays at the gates crying for a bit of bread, while the dogs lick the wounds of the violence being imposed upon him, and the rich man becomes fatter, sitting at the feeder of all that there is, while musing that, 'Lazarus could do better if he would only pull himself up by the straps of his own boots.' How long will it be before the doves of peace in this country are offered up on the roasting spits of the powers and principalities of this age? And how long will it be until the Christian community cries out, 'No more!' and walks the way of Christ in justice, peace and mutuality, working for meaningful solutions at the side of Lazarus, rather than courting the power and prestige of the rich man?

Hmmmmmmm. It is all a bit more than I really want to ponder as I watch the turtle doves eating from the ground below the bird feeders, but if I, and you, do not ponder it now and move in faith towards peace for all, than " . . . . two turtle doves . . . " on the second day of Christmas will never be anything more than a quaint thought and a romantic ideal, while violence and bloodshed become the norm by which all differences are settled.

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Don