Tuesday, 12 August, 2003

We continue a brief walk with some material on reconciliation by Walter Wink.



Wink goes into a discussion on true and false reconciliation. He does that by showing how government powers use their influence to make things look like there has been reconciliation while the victim is victimized even more through what was to be “reconciliation.”

Nevertheless, reconciliation is central to the gospel. God’s domination-free order requires that we transcend hatred in the very process of liberation, for the means become the end. Reconciliation after cessation of conflict is made infinitely easier if the conflict has been waged all along with an eye to ultimate reconciliation. As Ghandi saw so clearly, “Each single step on the way to the realization of a worthy objective must be a worthy objective in itself. Means have a way of inserting and integrating themselves into ends and of determining their ultimate pattern.”



Keeping the process clear of its intent makes each step clear of the debris of hatred and brokenness. And yet, this is not easy to do…it takes a deliberate act of courage to say, we cannot get there from here by doing what we are doing! We must follow the road of the cross…the road of self-giving love that will not be bought out by any power –that of others or our own. Each time I read another piece of Ghandi’s work, it amazes me how focused he could be and how much he demanded of himself and others as they practiced the way of truth-power. It does not take much to tempt us into the ways of the world when we want to change things into the way we want them to go. That is why warfare and corruption run rampant among even those who want to be change agents.



Connection: With each step we shape what will come. Do not be afraid to step boldly…but have others who will be for you a good sounding board so that we can each keep our eyes on the vision of God’s Reign in this day.



Lord, we seek the ways of your justice and peace so that your world may live in peace. We pray that we may each find the way to honor others so that we continue to engage one another in the peace-making life of your Reign. Guide us, O Lord. Amen