Thomas Lux’s poem The People of the Other Village is stuck in my mind as I read Facebook posts and news stories about the aftermath of the shooting in Charleston. The people of one village tries to win points at the expense of the people of the other village. The people of the other village tries to lose as few points as possible. At times, it feels like there is a gleeful hatred and I’m tired of it.

Yes, we need to talk about gun control. We need to talk about racism. We need to do more than just talk. We need to get to underlying issues. Why have the people of one village been enslaved and oppressed by the people of another village for hundreds of years?

To me, it comes down to the confession of sin. We have not loved our neighbors, our neighbors from the other village, as ourselves. We have not been overwhelmed by God’s love for us and the recognition that God loves the people from the other village as deeply as God loves us.

My thoughts go to the end of Romeo and Juliet

See, what a scourge is laid upon your hate,
That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love.
And I for winking at your discords too
Have lost a brace of kinsmen: all are punish'd.

All are punish’d.

So, what do we do? The politicians are positioning themselves. Yet I cannot help but remember the cartoon of the politician on the stump asking, “Who wants change?” and everyone raising their hands. But, when the question is presented as “Who wants to change?”, no one raises their hands.

It feels like, at this moment, everyone wants something to change, but very few want to be the people that actually change.

Several weeks ago, I set out on a spiritual journey. I’m not sure where it is going or how it will change me. However, I am at the point where I am ready to be changed. I’m running into people along the way, that are on their own journeys, that are ready to be changed. Are you one?

Buen Camino.