27 February 2006

Today we move into another way of looking at "othering" from Walter Brueggemann in "The Covenanted Self."

The second zone in which we are compelled to think about covenanting, that is, the practice of othering, is that of the neighbor. Of course the neighbor as other is even more problematic than God as other, because the neighbor is so near, so visible, and so daily.

Very often the difficulty of othering with the neighbor can be seen in how we go about something as basic as our acts of charity. It appears as though it is easier to pull people together to go about acts of charity and support to people and places far away from us than it is to work in a much more direct way with people close by - our neighbors. Maybe that is because the "other" close by is always present and therefore this other can so easily become like our own personality or physical flaws that can drive us nuts when they are seen in others or seen in our own mirror. And yet, entering into a loving relationship with our neighbor is so vital to our life under the banner of the cross. It is primary. It is not something that is to come after we have accomplished much in our lives and have the freedom to pick neighbors and the time we would be willing to give to them. This "othering" is a part of the genesis of the community of the followers of Jesus and the people of Israel.

Connection: One small step toward the practice of othering with our neighbor is one great leap into the life within the Reign of God. Go ahead and take the step!

Guide us, Loving Lord, that when we look out at those around us we begin to catch a glimmer of your Reign and realize what a gift it is to be pulled out of ourselves by the neighbors we have who are both near and far. Then, move us to enter into relationship with our neighbors. Amen.