On reconciliation

Being someone who is passionate about reconciliation is a core part of who I am. I am intentional about it, concerned about it and willing to fight for it. It's much more challenging to lives this out in relationships with the people I love and the people who they love than it is in my work place. The reason is these people have the potential to wound me the deepest and therefore, there is much more at stake to reconcile. Not a new thought to me by any means, but I am reminded again.

This morning I attended a session the Sup. of Kansas City Public Schools held to discuss the state of the schools and "right-sizing". In essence, closing schools to save money and improve classroom instruction. This is all so very interesting and part of my wants to jump in head first to become the most involved that I can be. This stuff matters.

But, what I realized again this morning is that I am in a different stage of life now. It's the stage of learning to live reconciled with and to David J. Spaite. And this stage of life and our relationship is important. What I am realizing is that rather than having to be afraid of "losing myself" and my passions in relationship, I can trust. Because as time as proven, I am gaining a friend. This relationship we are building will allow us to learn to support one another in our fight against oppression and injustice. It is also teaching us to fight well and to seek to careful, to not offend, to think of another in the midst of our passions.

This journey is more challenging than moving into the urban core and getting to know my neighbors. It's more intimidating than conquering my fears of incompetence in the classroom. It's more risky than leaving the safety of my suburban safety to brave the city.

And yet, I believe if we continue to seek God's love and listen to each other. This journey that we have embarked on will prove to be the deepest kind of reconciliation possible. And as I think of what I want in a life-long partner and as I attempt to grasp the concept of a life-long commitment... this analogy makes sense. Life-long commitment is a promise to live reconciled to one person.

This sort of understanding seems much more fitting than signing up to be a "ministry partner" or a variety of other church coined phrases. Both of those things seem scary and rather caustic to an understanding of our identity in relationship to each other. (Although Dave and I will partner in many things in life including ministry at different points... I am simply acknowledging my dislike of the phraseology.) Some will find this challenging and we may have to defend our understanding of relationship a time or two, but I am starting to comprehend the concept although I quite sure I may never fully grasp it.

Thank you dear friends who have included me in your relationships which have helped me to form mine. Thank you dear mentors who have believed in me and encouraged me. I wouldn't happen upon this understanding without you.