Revelation 21:1-6
I'm in a place now where I'm beginning to notice that my reactions to people's reactions are not what they would have been a few years ago. Let me explain. Last week as people were posting responses to the events in Boston which said something to the effect of, "I hope they catch and kill those $%#@ers!" I found myself thinking, Why do we allow ourselves to condone hate speech in response to hate action."
In the past I would have been the one who joined in and said, "Yeah, kill them!" These days, however, I have a very difficult time with people condemning and using words that promote division and hate, even in response to acts of hate. Maybe I'm getting old, or maybe I'm realizing that hate is not, nor will it ever be the answer.
The last verse in today's passage really got me thinking about something. The Lord says to John (at least we think it's John), "To the thirsty I will give water as a gift..." I've thought of God as many things: Creator, Sustainer, Guide, Shepherd, Provider. I don't think I've really seen God as a gift-giver before, though.
In my culture a gift is called a borato. I'm honestly not sure where that word comes from, but I do know it's not a Hawaiian word. Neither is it a Spanish word, so don't "Google" it. The word borato, the best I can define it, comes from the plantation times of Hawaii's history when a gift was given whenever one visited a person's home. It was thought to be impolite to go to someone's home, especially if invited for a gathering such as a birthday party, to come empty-handed. A borato, then, is both an offering and a way of saying thank you.
The borato is never expected, nor is it given with anything expected in return. It is truly a gift one brings out of respect for the home you are visiting. When someone from Hawaii visits friends and family on the mainland or on the neighbor islands we always take a borato.
This is the kind of gift I understand God to be giving as he offers us a drink from the waters of life. It's a gift that is given out of respect for entering our lives. Uh-oh, I can see I've raised a few eyebrows. Read the passage, it says God is coming to dwell among us. God is coming into our house and God's bringing the most wonderful gift of all; a life filled with peace, joy, and love. That is what living with God will be like.
So, how does any of this pertain to my feelings about the words of others I've heard and read in the last week or so? I just think that if God is coming to live with us, shouldn't we make our house more welcoming to someone who is bringing the ultimate gift when they come to visit us?
Stop the cycle, end the hate.
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