The Word of God calls us to love one another, even if we do not always understand one another or get along. For it is in our contrasts that Christian love is seen—a love that manifests despite differences of opinion or character. Love is greater than these differences! -- Pope Francis
Earlier this summer, my husband and I experienced a wonderful trip to Spain. Among the places we visited was Ronda. The city of Ronda is divided by a gorge called El Tajo de Ronda, some 322 feet deep and 150 feet wide. The gorge is spectacularly vertical. At the bottom flows the Guadalevín River.
This gorge became a great inconvenience to the people of Ronda as the town grew beyond the ancient city walls to the other side of the gorge. There was an old bridge, but it was difficult to use because it involved going down very steep steps and ramps along the sides of the gorge to reach the bridge. There was a need for a new bridge. The first attempt at building one fell down, killing 50 people. Finally, after 35 years of work (you think road work is slow now?) the new bridge was completed in 1793.
When I was looking at the new bridge and the gorge, my thoughts went to the deep divides and polarizations in our communities and the world today. Finding ways to live together involves bridging dangerous gorges. I think the construction of the new bridge provides some insights.
I noticed that there were pillars that held up the bridge and they began all the way down on the banks of the Guadalevín River. They rose vertically along the sides of the solid rock of the gorge.
If we want to bridge divides, we need to start at the base. We will not mend relationships or heal the fabric of democracy by proving something, or by arguing, or even by winning elections, but by somehow finding common bases and starting dialogue there.
If we claim that we are Christians, followers of Jesus, then relationships have to be based on love. Jesus told us to “Love our neighbors as ourselves,” to “love our enemies,” and to “love one another.” Jesus didn’t tell us to do much else. Love. Period.
Love is a complicated word in English. I love chocolate, I love my country, I love my spouse. The Greek word used in the Scriptures above is agapē, meaning unconditional, selfless, intentional love. How can we tell is we love others? Paul lays it out in 1 Corinthians 13. “Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous….It is not rude. It bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
We can disagree and remain grounded in love. And if we are grounded in love, we will treat each other well. We will dialogue rather than resort to words and actions that are not helpful to anyone. Of course, our efforts to achieve loving dialogue might not be reciprocated. Even so, we are better off if we remain grounded in love. That is what Christians are called to do. We are all part of the same human family, children of God. We all have something important to say and something important to contribute to the common good.
This is a lot to live up to. As we head into the campaigns preceding the November elections, I am going to try to remember my own words and live up to them.
Jeanette Arnquist is a former Director of the Department of Life, Dignity & Justice for the Diocese of San Bernardino.