All that is true
“My sisters and brothers, your thoughts should be wholly directed to all that is true, all that deserves respect, all that is honest, pure, decent, admirable, virtuous or worthy of praise. Live according to what you have learned…
Then will the God of peace be with you.”
Philippians 4:8-9 The Inclusive Bible
One day not so long ago I watched a travel adventure show of Switzerland. The show featured verdant pastures, blue skies and pure air, people biking along vineyards near Lake Geneva, electric cars with plenty of recharging stations, electric trams and trains, ice cream made of sheep milk which is tastier, easier to digest and with more protein than cows’ milk, and youth with much hope for their future.
Next I watched our country’s news of mass shootings, wildfires causing air pollution for thousands of miles, floods, high gas prices, “shrinkflation” at the grocery store, Congress rendered dysfunctional by corporate greed and lobbying, a biased Supreme Court, systemic racism, and people homeless and hungry in America.
I wondered, “why is Switzerland a land of peace and freedom while our country which espouses these values cannot seem to achieve them?”
One might say our elected leaders need to make changes. And we can vote… But true and lasting change does not come from the top down. It comes from the bottom up — from the grassroots. Jesus did not hold a power position in the religious or political systems to impose values, beliefs and behaviors on others. Instead, Jesus called forth all that is true within each person – especially the poor, the sick, the needy and the outsider. Jesus showed the place of peace and freedom is within –— where God dwells.
As the verse above shows, beauty, freedom and peace begin within those who focus on truth, respect and honesty – and live according to all that is true.
The reverend Celia M. Hastings has a masters degree in religious education from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. She is author of “The Wisdom Series” and “The Undertaker’s Wife.”
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: All that is true