We are unique people with opinions and attitudes that can both connect us and disconnect us from others. Life is a journey that involves decision making about how to relate to and accept other people. It is a struggle we all face. These struggles include us, as individuals, community, politicians, country and world.
Too many decisions are made on the basis of “those people.” When we add a “y” to “our” than we move from finding solutions and caring about people to blaming and finding ways to remove “them” from our thoughts and actions. You become the problem. You’re at fault. It’s not our problem. Such thinking creates division and stands in the way of meaningful dialogue and solutions.
A number of years ago, I attended a meeting to discuss homelessness in our community. The person who led the meeting began by stating in a derogatory voice that he “wouldn‘t even touch one of ‘those people.’” Needless to say there was no “our” talk but only “your” talk. The solution promoted was to get rid of those people. Compassion was replaced with derision.
I also vividly recall an incident when I served as legislative chaplain. In my brief prayer, I lifted up our need to remember the vulnerable and homeless in our role as leaders praying for the 150 homeless youth per night on our Juneau streets. Following the prayer, a legislator quickly jumped to confer with other legislators and arranged for the prayer to be censored and stricken from the Journal for the day. A local legislator confirmed, to his surprise, that it was a deliberate effort to exclude “those people.” All people are “our” people, who need uncensored dignity, prayer and compassion.
There has been a growing movement across the nation to take action against “those people,” by making it illegal to feed people in need on the streets. Legal barriers are created to discourage serving those we are called to serve! When we add a “y” and neglect the “our,” we enter an uncaring and harsh world where people don’t matter and a punitive solution toward “those people” becomes acceptable and even desirable.
The term “those people” can apply to anyone deemed different than us, be it race, sexuality, immigration, poverty, religion, homelessness or disability. We have the “mind power” to become hostile and uncompromising, or compassionate, and willing to stretch our minds and actions around acceptance, openness and empathy.
Who do we consciously or unconsciously label as “those people?” What steps can we take to be more inclusive in our thoughts and actions? Faith should always drive us in the direction of compassion, empathy and willingness to enter into discomfort as we adopt the word “our” into behaviors and actions. Such growth can be life changing for us, our community and beyond. If we want a Biblical example we can simply look to Jesus who hung around and ministered to, and cared about people who were considered “those people” in his day, and I suspect in our day as well.
Our calling is to be people who find blessing in “ourness.” As we find common ground in caring, we break down barriers and build bridges that unite us. Division takes much energy and can be so hurtful. Faith does not mean unity of thought but it does involve a unity of caring. May you be lead toward a unity found in compassion, caring and empathy! Our calling is to work together and be a blessing to ALL God’s people.
• Pastor Larry Rorem is a retired Evangelical Lutheran Church in America pastor living in Juneau.
