Who's On Your Side?

It's a sad statement in today's western culture that has us believing we have to be on one side or the other. Definite lines in the sand have been made on issues such as abortion, deforesting,  marriage equality, hydraulic fracturing (aka fracking), religion, ocean dumping, and many other issues. It's not all right anymore to say I believe in being in the middle. Saying, "I can see the need for it, but maybe how it is done should be limited or look for other ways to conserve." about ecological issues or "I know it's a difficult topic, but honestly, isn't that their choice and all I should really do is support them in where their lives go from here." about social issues are no longer acceptable. We are expected and sometimes pressured into choosing a side.

The Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 8:22-27 that all of creation is on the verge of change and in fact that change is already taking place. His imagery of "groaning in labor pains" paints a picture of a world that is going through what most, if not all, women who have given birth will tell you is one of the most painful experiences of their lives. These same women will also tell you that the joy of holding their new born immediately takes away the pains they have just endured.

Once again Paul shows us how endurance and suffering brings about hope and joy. But this time, in this passage, Paul reminds us we won't go through these pains alone. We have someone who will intercede on our behalf as we go through them. That "interceder" is the Spirit of God. The same Spirit which Jesus told us was coming to guide us and the same Spirit which unified a room full of men on the verge of major disagreement; the same spirit which filled a valley full of dry bones to help Ezekiel spread the message that God is always by our side.

Somewhere, somehow, someway humanity has forgotten that we have one who goes through what we go through, regardless of the depths of suffering or the heights of joy. God doesn't demand we be on God's side; even though nothing would make God happier. God allows us to live our life and make decisions along the way which we feel is best for our lives. What's missing from how we decide things today is remembering to include others, creation, and God in those decisions.

God is on our side. More importantly, God is at our side. Let's try to be remember that the next time we are being asked to choose sides.