November 10, 2024 Reflection

Today, as we gather to reflect on 1 Corinthians 12:1-26, we find ourselves at the intersection of a complicated, yet essential, theme: respect. The Apostle Paul wrote these words to a community in Corinth that struggled with division. And Paul’s metaphor of the body—where every part is vital to the whole—speaks powerfully to our world today, especially on a weekend filled with both national and global significance.

Tomorrow we observe Remembrance Day and on Friday we observed Indigenous Veterans Day. We pause to honour the courage of those who served and sacrificed, so that future generations could have the chance to live in peace and freedom. Yet even on this solemn occasion, we cannot ignore the reality that war is the ultimate testament to our inability to find common ground. Respect, however, compels us to remember that, even in the midst of brokenness and conflict, we can honour the dignity of those who have served, and mourn the lives lost, while also striving to create a world that respects the sanctity of all human life.

And then in the midst of thinking about respecting the sanctity of all human life, our neighbours to the south have just come through a very divisive election, where they have elected a convicted felon who does not respect women, immigrants, people of colour, Latinos, people with disabilities, the 2SLGBTQ+ community, scientists, Christianity, people of all other religions, environmentalists, the constitution, democracy… I could go on. The results, no doubt, have brought feelings of hope for some – apparently 51 percent of voting Americans… and dismay for others. Political division runs deep, and it challenges the very idea of being “one body,” as Paul describes. But the call to respect one another remains, no matter which candidate we supported or which policies we believe are best. Respect does not mean we must agree; it means, instead, that we look at each other, see each other as human, and acknowledge the unique value of each person’s perspective. That is a very difficult thing to do when we so strongly disagree.  It is a very difficult thing to do when there is such a lack of respect in return. 

On Wednesday, I know along with many of you, I was pretty devastated and disappointed and disbelieving about the election results, and I was in meetings all day, so mid afternoon, feeling a little down and quite hungry, I decided to give myself a break from everything and treat myself to sushi, my comfort food!  I was sitting in the restaurant, just quietly enjoying my sushi, blissfully keeping my mind off anything worrisome, when I looked over and at the table next to me was a man with a red MAGA hat on.  I was struck by it – not only because I don’t normally see red “Make America Great Again” Trump supporting hats here, but because I was specifically trying to get away from my thoughts about it.  And it caused me to reflect about how we can’t just hide away from it, it isn’t going to go away, even if we want it to. 

And it made me think about Kamala Harris’ concession speech and various commentators I have seen since then, who basically have said now is the time to act.  Things didn’t go the way we had hoped, but boy do we have work to do!  Let’s get to it.

I heard that some of you were cursing me this week after my sermon last week about humility and keeping each other connected to what binds us together as humans, holding deep convictions, while still bearing with one another in love, without dehumanizing each other.  This is such hard work.  I know that.  We all know that. And as I was confronted with that MAGA hat, part of me wanted to walk over to him and tell him what I thought of his MAGA hat! And I am certainly not claiming to be innocent in my thoughts this week, walking around living out the words of my sermon with perfection.  These sermons are as much a reminder to me as they are to all of you, that we are works in progress.  We constantly need to keep working at this stuff in order to live in the way of love. 

And so in the wake of the US election, respect asks us to look again at our political differences and see them not as barriers to relationship but as opportunities for deeper understanding. We will never find total agreement in our society, and perhaps, that is not the goal. Instead, we are called to live on uncommon ground with respect and, yes, with love.

Sometimes we think that respecting someone means we must agree with them, or that it means abandoning our own deeply held beliefs. But respect, at its core, comes from the Latin word *respectus*, meaning “to look again” or “to regard.” It’s about taking the time to see each other, to be curious about what makes someone different from us, and to recognize that even on uncommon ground, we are all worthy of regard.

On Remembrance Day, we respect those who served by remembering them, not just as soldiers but as fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, and friends. We look again at the stories of sacrifice and remember that they carried a dream for a world better than the one they left behind. Respect calls us to honour the weight of that sacrifice by working for peace in our own lives and communities.

When I joined the Army almost two years ago now, it probably came as a surprise to you.  It came as a surprise to me too. I never imagined five years ago that I would be Captain the Reverend Carla Wilks, wearing the uniform of the Canadian Armed Forces – but the appeal for me was in respecting the service of others, and being there to remind those serving members of their value, at times when it is hard for them to remember that themselves.  The motto of the Chaplains in the Canadian Armed Forces is “Care for All” and that is what I strive to do each time I put on that uniform. 

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul emphasizes that the body of Christ is made up of many parts, each with its unique gifts and roles. “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’” Paul’s words remind us that the diversity of our gifts and experiences is not a weakness but a strength.

When we respect one another, we acknowledge that each part is necessary, even when we can’t always see how.  And that even the most undesirable parts of the body, are necessary for proper function of the body!

But how can we do the hard work of respect when we ourselves feel tired, anxious, or uncertain?  This week I read an article from a meditation teacher, Dr. Rick Hanson, and it gave four ways to respond in the aftermath of the election, but it is good advice in general for dealing with difficult news. 

First, be kind to yourself. Slow down and let yourself feel what you are feeling. Take your time to acknowledge the complexity of your emotions. It’s okay to carry wounds from the world, from the disappointment of closed doors or the pain of dashed hopes. Be loyal to yourself. Remember your own fundamental goodness, that deep, sweet nature at your core. Respect yourself enough to care for your inner being.

And as we respect ourselves, we must also learn to protect our hearts. In a world overflowing with misinformation, divisiveness, and conflict, we can choose to pull our attention away from toxic influences. We don’t have to let painful thoughts and feelings invade our minds and set up camp. As the Buddha taught, suffering may pass through our awareness, but we don’t have to let it define us. We can step back, breathe, and remember that not every storm has to leave us shaken.

Yet even as we protect our hearts, we are called to keep them open. Love heals and sustains us, whether it flows inward or outward. Love your family, love your friends, and love our precious, complicated world. And with those who drain or hurt us, we can still show compassion while setting healthy boundaries. We can be both kind and strong, tender yet resilient.

We are all wounded. We carry the scars of betrayal, regret, and loss. But as we tend to these wounds with love, they become more bearable. We don’t have to hide our pain. We can carry our wounds into love, where they soften, allowing us to step into the world with renewed strength and grace.

His next point was to see clearly. In these turbulent times, it is essential to discern truth from falsehood. As Maya Angelou said, “When people show you who they are, believe them the first time.” Recognize the reality of our world, including the real dangers that threaten justice and democracy. It’s not alarmist to acknowledge that authoritarianism has taken hold in various ways; it’s being wise and watchful. Yet, in all this, remember to ask: How are the people you care about doing? How are *you* doing, really?

His third point is to “Do what you can.” The world can feel overwhelming, but as young activist Nkosi Johnson, who lived and died at age 12 with HIV, said, “Do all that you can with what you’ve been given, in the place where you are, with the time that you have.” Invest in yourself and your circle. What nourishes and protects you? What brings you joy? Sometimes the simple acts of connecting with friends or pursuing a healthy routine make a bigger difference than we imagine.

Remember, even under the most challenging conditions, peace is still possible. Most things are beyond our control. But in the middle of uncertainty, you can find a deep stillness, like the sky behind the weather. Take a moment to look at the enduring beauty around you: the trees, the laughter of loved ones, the stars in the night sky. There is always peace in the act of simple presence, in slowing down to be with what is real and good.

So, what does this mean for us as a faith community, as neighbours, as people trying to make sense of a divided world? It means that we choose to see each other, early and often. We choose to keep looking at one another, tending to our relationships with care. We speak to each other with grace. We honour each other’s stories, even when they challenge our own. We respect that the Spirit works differently in each of us, and that we all contribute to the body of Christ.

Know that our actions, our practice of respect and love, will ripple out into the world, touching lives in ways we may never see. In this way, we live as part of the body of Christ—unique, necessary, and full of purpose.

Let us, therefore, commit to living with this uncommon respect. Let us respect those who have fought and fallen. Let us respect the complex emotions surrounding political outcomes. And let us respect each other as beloved members of the body, each with something necessary to contribute.

May we, like Paul, learn to see the beauty in our differences and live in a way that honours the God who created us all uniquely.  Let us live together on this uncommon ground with respect, with love, and with hope. Amen.