So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

-Romans 14:19

As our leaders seek to find a new justice for the Supreme Court, I've read again so many stories of past justices who disagreed in their interpretations of the law, but managed to form deep abiding relationships and friendships. The pursuit of peace, mutuality is at the heart of such relationships, a humility. I often wonder if this lack of humility in our modern society is a reflection of Christianity losing its influence or Christians forgetting it's a tenet of our faith. And this week, I saw a children's cartoon that inspired me. In the first frame, a wolf encounters a sheep. 

And the sheep decides to see the wolf as something other than a predator. And this humility, this kindness and compassion becomes an invitation for the wolf to see the sheep as something other than prey. What if we see people who are different from us as worth our time, as beloved to God and not a predator or our prey... could we begin to walk together? In God's kingdom, it says in scripture that even the wolf will lay with the lamb. In the final panel, the wolf is still a wolf, and the lamb is still a lamb, but perhaps Paul is trying to tell us we can be at peace when our hearts have changed, and not our minds. 

Lord, as I read and interpret your Word, send your spirit to guide me, and send me fellow believers to challenge me, and help me grow, as we pursue peace. Amen.