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“My Father’s house has many rooms…” John 14:2-3

Lately, I’ve been seeing everything through a political lens whether I want to or not. So, it didn’t surprise me that a Biblical verse at a recent memorial service got me thinking about then-Senator Abraham Lincoln’s 1858 speech about a “House Divided.”

I hear the verse to mean there’s space for everyone, which is true of the United States as well. Our nation was built on the idea that everyone—regardless of creed, nationality, race, political belief, or any other factor—can find a place here, contribute to their communities, and thrive. We’re a blend of people who lived here before anyone crossed the Atlantic and numerous waves of immigrants, each bringing unique cultures and beliefs. Some came willingly, some under force. Some came as a first choice, some as a last hope. No matter how we arrived, there was room in this massive house.

We may not always understand or like what’s going on in other rooms of this house but there is room. We may be annoyed by the music blaring from down the hall but there is room. We may disagree on how to remodel areas of the house but there is room.

Unfortunately, we’re now seeing cracks in the very foundation of our shared house.

Some don’t want to believe there’s a problem. Others may see this as normal for such an old house. And then there’s a group that sees people taking a chainsaw to the structures that uphold our house and is sounding the alarm.

As the cracks increasingly show, here’s the deal: we MUST address threats to our structural integrity even as we continue to live in the house.

What does that mean?

It means we all still need clean water, healthy food, health care, education, and physical safety and we need to fix our foundation. If you’ve ever repaired a foundation, you know it’s a massive job.

Understandably, people are feeling demoralized, scared, numb, or angry, to name a few responses over the past several weeks. I’ve heard others question how they can keep working with a long-term focus when there’s short-term urgency.

The answer is we need both. Read the rest of this article, including examples of focusing on our shared foundation, in The Fulcrum.

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