Thinking of children

         Front-page news coverage draws us to particular political realities.  The pictures and the report cause us to think of the conditions under which children from Central America are being subjected.  We need to think of the children in these situations.  We have a moral imperative to think of other ways to solve immigration and asylum issues.

            This 4^thof July week is a good time to think about the children for whom we in America have responsibility.  What kind of world do we want them to experience in their adulthood?  What are our hopes for them?  As people of faith what do we want to tell them?

            As I look at the state of education over the years contained within my own lifespan, I can certainly see great advances.  I, for one, was the first in my immediate family to go to college, and even get a Masters Degree.    Yet all children do not have access to quality education.  All schools are not created equal.  All children in this great and wealthy nation cannot afford to go to school.  Some even need to sacrifice for the sake of the family and give up school in order to work in the fields.  Teachers are uniformly underpaid.  As we celebrate the 4^thof July it is a good time to think about the children and how we teach the stories of America, the good and the tragic.  

            As Global Warming and Climate Change (or in some cases the denial of such) dominate discussions worldwide, let us think of the children.  As people of faith we have been entrusted with the task of being faithful stewards of creation.  The time of exploitation needs to end because it is not sustainable.  Our children deserve better.  Our children deserve the opportunity to enjoy the natural world. Our children deserve safe water and clean air.  As we celebrate the 4^thof July it is a good time to appreciate those parks and recreational spaces where we will celebrate and consider how we safeguard their future.

            This annual celebration of America’s founding is a good time to think about the children.  Are we teaching them the lessons of Civics about how our nation works?  It is an opportunity to think about how we teach our children (and hopefully ourselves) how to listen to one another and talk to one another.  Democracy is a fragile creation.  We need to teach our children (and ourselves) how to move beyond negative obstructionist political action.  We need each other so that we can preserve our Democracy for our children.

            Finally on this 4^thof July week it is well to remember that our founding ancestors deliberately separated “church and state”.  Rather than limiting God to blessing only our nation, let us think how our faith informs the decisions we make.  As a people of faith guided by the teachings of Jesus how we do view our policy discussions on such things as education, immigration, climate, our Democracy through the spectrum of compassion, mercy, and justice? 

            Maybe, just maybe, if we paid attention to the children we might find the will to confront the difficult issues of our corporate life in such a way that our children and our grandchildren might enjoy the fruits of this great experiment, The United States of America.  It’s worth a try.  Happy 4^thof July!

Grace and Peace

Rev. Clara