I consider myself to be a red-blooded American who believes in freedom, darn it! And I believe in all freedoms, for all people, until they infringe upon the safety and freedom of others.
It doesn’t really matter which “side of the aisle” on which you stand, we should all agree that an assassination attempt on one of our country’s leaders is an egregious violation of all of our freedoms. If the people at the top aren’t safe, neither are the rest of us!
How did we get here?
Well, if we can all take a moment to be really honest, what we face today isn’t anything new. Just read the Old Testament. There have been sins of all kinds, including political violence, since the written word was translated for our benefit. But the United States of America was founded for something better, something more! This resonates with me so deeply…I readily admit that I am “Pollyanna”, perhaps naive, but more accurately, an idealist at heart. Always hopeful. For what do we have, if not hope?
One of the unique aspects of being a physician is being considered a trustworthy advocate for my patients, and for many others. Something about the title of “doctor” carries, as it should, a certain weight of responsibility, honesty, ability, and competence. People usually assume that my word is true and worthy of belief. There is an expectation that I will protect the integrity of my patients’ private information, and as such, and I am often privy to conversations with people from all walks of life that one otherwise wouldn’t get to have. This includes political, religious, and personal beliefs.
And there are two things that all people I have ever encountered have in common: the need to be loved and hope for tomorrow.
Those are pretty simple. More than air, more than food, more than water, people need love and hope. And I will add one more that many don’t realize they need, but their lives and their hearts and their pain are yearning for it: faith.
But it is love that provides the rest. If each one of us put love first, if every American, both Democrat and Republican, considered, “What would Love do?” before speaking, before writing, before acting, I think we would find that we have more in common than we have different. And those differences, if we could love first, we would come to appreciate the beautiful artist that is our Creator. Just because someone looks differently, behaves differently, believes differently, chooses differently, doesn’t mean they aren’t beloved by the same God in the same way He loves you. And me. And my children. And my future grandchildren.
The hope for America isn’t born on a political stage. It isn’t made in Congress. (No offense to my friends serving in public office!) The hope for America starts at home. Are you listening respectfully to your children or parents? Do you have civil conversations about topics on which you disagree? Are you showing the people in your home how to respect and love all people, without conditions, not just the ones of whom you “approve”?
Lest I get on my soapbox, I want to just thread a few closing thoughts together…..
- Miriam-Webster defines Freedom as: 1. the quality or state of being free: such as a) the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action, b) liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another: independence, c) the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous, d) unrestricted use, e) ease, facility, f) the quality of being frank, open, or outspoken, g) improper familiarity, h) boldness of conception or execution; 2) a political right
- The Bible teaches us that God’s very essence, who He is, is love. Love defines Him, it motivates Him, it is at the very core of His being. 1 John 4:8 and 4:16 say that “God is love.”
- Galatians 5: 13-14 says, “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
The solution to our problems is simple, but it cannot be legislated. We cannot “force” people to live under our Christian values or personal morals. That’s the opposite of Freedom (and reminiscent of the Church of England….King George III….the American Revolution, remember?!) Only God can change a heart; and while I find this hard to believe sometimes (joking!), He doesn’t need my or your help to do it! Go home and love your family. Better yet, love the next person you encounter. Think of THEM above YOURSELF. How can you reflect the God we serve, who IS love? How can you be the hands and feet of Jesus every time someone encounters you? It isn’t because of your cool style, your earthly wealth, the church you attend, and least of all, your “holier” beliefs….others will know and turn to Jesus when we show them the same undeserved kindness (love, mercy, & grace) that God has shown to us. (“And Jesus said to them, ‘Let the one of you who is without sin throw the first stone at her.” John 8:7)
I hope that all you sinners out there will remember two things:
-”Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” -2 Corinthians 3:17
-Jesus loves you, and so do I!
Dr. Allison Key
(For further reading about love & freedom, I recommend these chapters: Romans 12, John 8, Galatians 5, 1 Corinthians 13, Colossian 2, 1 Corinthians 10, Ephesians 5.)
