Mark Katrick faith column: Take down the walls that divide us to see unity in Christ Jesus

Atop the 1,530-foot peak of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park, you are treated to a spectacular view.

“It is the highest point along the North Atlantic seaboard and the first place to view sunrise in the United States from Oct. 7 through March 6,” according to AcadiaMagic.com.

As you approach the curve before the summit, there is nothing to separate you from the ocean except a guard rail. Its vast blue expanse literally took my breath away. I had to pull over to the side of the road until my eyes adjusted. Perhaps it would have been better for me if they’d built a wall. But who would want to be set apart from the beauty and vastness of God’s creation like that?

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One of the things that keeps us from living, learning, growing and understanding each other better are the walls we build between us. Scripture says that it is Christ Jesus, “who is our peace, makes the two one, and tears down the dividing walls of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14).

While serving St. John’s United Church of Christ in Genoa, Ohio, we had the opportunity to host Ron and Kris Klusmeier for a music workshop. One of the many songs these two have performed is “Walls That Divide.” Ron provided the music, and Walter Farquharson wrote the words.

The refrain’s message is poetic and brings a healing and hopeful message: “Walls that divide are broken down, Christ is our unity. Chains that enslave are thrown aside; Christ is our liberty.”

Getting straight to the point of this column, the reasons we hate on and hurt each other so much these days are the walls we build between us. Because we can’t see and hear each other, this creates a vacuum of human pride and prejudice that causes us to label and make assumptions about each other.

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It would be better if we’d have guard rails you could reach across, so we could still see, hear, share, empathize with and relate to one another. If we’re ever going to be the instruments of Christ’s peace that St. Francis of Assisi envisions in his prayer, there is no room for walling ourselves in like we do.

When they were little, my kids liked to build walls between them with cardboard bricks. But they loved knocking them down even more. When walls become “lines of hate,” and we long to “live side by side once more,” we should be like the little children who break down walls through their desire to live, learn, play and grow together.

If we as grown-ups would do the same, we’d be treated to a spectacular view of a vast blue expanse, an ocean of universal and unconditional love that is “the peace of Christ which transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).

Mark Katrick is a pastor and spiritual guide.

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Mark Katrick faith column: Take down the walls that divide