Somewhere on the way to truly respecting different beliefs we stopped at tolerance and that by definition suggests one or the other is still "less than OK" and the inkling of genuine interest that one had to truly learn to appreciate another culture or world view paused permanently. Hence, here we stand in a world with common enemies like extreme poverty, lack of education and no health care constantly advancing while we war against each other in opposite boxes via satellite on the "Hardball 360 Factor Report."

To see 2 million people gather to celebrate a milestone in world history without an incident of violence or discord is just a snapshot of what's possible when we commit to pray, listen and learn from one another. What if we decided to put down our guns and pick up books, have discussions instead of arguments, and appreciate our differences instead of smiling while secretly trying to subvert each other's arguments or economies. What if we lived like many members of the same body? Maybe things would be different... 



"Jesus For President"



It's like painting a picture in the dark of something I've never seen 
before -- peace.

Not bound by law, location, lack of insurance or low salary

Not held back by insecurities and low-self esteem
not handcuffed by mistakes and expectations

A world where purpose is public

and the remaking of our dreams
into commodities is strictly prohibited.
You see, here - compassion captures consumption

in a dance against scarcity of resources

and caught up in our commitment to God and one another --
we are secure.

Inflation, stagflation, and economic packages of stimulation

are figments of our imagination that we can barely remember.

our only competition is against the instinct to be competitive.
Because this is shalom -- peace between all relationships

Oh if only Christ were our head of state,

then our united states of being would be called Eden...

if Jesus could be our president
then every resident would have equal and ultimate representation

in the court of the most High

Oh if the lion of Judah were the king of our lives,

if His Way was our way, His truth, our truth - his Life, our Life...

what would our lives look like

Maybe 34,000 children wouldn't die every day

from hunger, malaria, TB and AIDS

and hate crimes wouldn't happen between races

and against lesbians and gays
and maybe 40 hours per week would actually equal a living wage
and freedom was a reality not a catch phrase

used by Barack Obama and John Mccain

Maybe every child would have an education

old people could afford medication

and could stop sex trafficking and child slavery

maybe soldiers from every tribe and every tongue

could sit down at a table with unloaded guns
and trade stories about their kids and things on their Christmas lists

instead of artillery fire from opposite ditches

what if this was the way that we lived...

I'm painting a picture in the dark of something I've never seen before...

trying to get back to the point where God spoke into the void and

light broke through,

so my light can break too, so I can help make new what the fall has
taken from me and from you...I'm trying...

to paint a path from Genesis 1 clear through to Revelation 22

but I'm in a black room with black pen with a black ink and black paper too...
but I hear John the Baptist proclaiming the coming good news

I'm painting a picture in the dark of something I've never seen before...

something I'm working towards
a picture I've never seen...a picture--
won't you paint with me.

[Image: Pat Benic / NJ.com]