By Rev. Donn Brammer

A school, a church, a workplace, the latest is a synagogue but there are shootings and killings and heartbreak with each and every tragedy.

I would like to think that something could be done to stop and prevent these events but I’m pretty sure even if a solution did present itself, given the divisive nature of our government, nothing would be done because the ‘other’ side would not support it.

Hate never leads to anything good. If you’ve ever watched Star Wars you may recall the quote ‘Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.’ Right now we are seeing way too much suffering.

We have to stop the hate and we do not do that by hating the haters. It seems so silly and basic to say ‘hating people is wrong’ and yet we are seeing and hearing hate acted out every day. Whether it’s on social media, the lunchroom or our neighborhood street, hateful speech leads to hateful action, from spray paint to bumper stickers, from social posts to shootings, inciting and insulting language is not insightful and certainly it is not helpful.

I’m not talking about ‘politically correct’ speech, I’m talking about Christian speech. I’m talking about the Gospel, I’m talking about sowing words of love and peace and grace.

You’ve heard me say it before: we are entrusted with the seeds of the Gospel and we do not get any points when we show up in heaven with our pockets full of seeds. Jesus said the Kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches. (Matthew 13:31-32)

We are called to sow the seed only then will the Kingdom grow. I know sometimes we get anxious, I know sometimes it takes a long time before we see the first sprout, the first bloom, the first blossom, but if we don’t plant the seed then we will never see the Kingdom grow. Cast the seed, speak words of love and hope, healing and grace, and the Kingdom will grow in ways that will amaze.