Hand Me Another Brick

Read Nehemiah 3

                We rejoin Nehemiah in Chapter 3.  Nehemiah, an Jewish official in the King of Persia’s court, hears about the crumbled walls of Jerusalem and is moved to do something.  He obtains permission and resources from the King and sets off to begin the task.  He shares his vision and it is contagious.  Every tribe is moved to join the work and do their part.  The whole of Chapter 3 gives witness to this.  At first reading, it may seem like a boring list of who is taking responsibility for what part of the job.  But seen as the growth of a vision that was too big for any one group or tribe, it is inspiring.  Each person doing their part. Each family doing their part. Each tribe doing their part.  The impossible vision becomes reality.

                A gross misreading of the book of Nehemiah is to hold up Nehemiah as some kind of Hebrew superhero who singlehandedly rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem.  If 21^st century Hollywood made a movie about this story, that’s how it would go.  We love superhero sagas. But it’s not real life.  In real life, the big huge things get done when everyone does their part.  In a speech back in 2020, President Obama said this:

“But here’s the thing: no single American can fix this country alone. Not even a president. Democracy was never meant to be transactional — you give me your vote; I make everything better. It requires an active and informed citizenry. So I am also asking you to believe in your own ability — to embrace your own responsibility as citizens.”

You may or may not align with Obama politically, but don’t miss the truth of this statement.  We all have a responsibility to play if we’re going to weather the actual and metaphorical storms that are raging  all around us right now.  We can protect one another, hold up one another, and join collective efforts to make things better.  We can stand together against things we all know are wrong.  We can stand up together for things we all know are right.  We can choose to be united and energized by these things instead of the following the voices of division.  Loving God and loving people is NOT passive; it requires the engaged action of us ALL!  Find the work that you are uniquely gifted to do and faithfully do it.

Prayer:  God, break through our passive tendencies and call each of us to the collective action that will impact our families, our communities, our country and the world.  Amen.

Prayer Focus:  Pray for the Republican Party today.  If you offended by the thought of that, just know that tomorrow, I will be asking you to pray for the Democratic party.  The people in the “other” party are not your enemies.  They are people God loves.  Pray for them.

Song: Help (cover of Beatles by Colt Clark and the Quarantine Kids)