Acts of Love, Conquering Hate
Fear gripped my heart as I rushed down from the 82nd floor of the then-called Sears Tower to meet my husband. We had to immediately evacuate the building because the Twin Towers in New York City had been attacked (along with reported attacks in Washington, DC and Shanksville, PA). My first child was only 9-months old and I just wanted to get him, and then get to safety. Here we are twenty years later, still operating in a culture of heart-gripping fear. Such fear causes us to act as terrorists towards our fellow citizens and towards our neighbors in the world.
As we somberly and soberly reflect on the lives lost two decades ago on this anniversary of the heinous acts of September 11, let us also do the hard work and reflect on how fear can create our own inner terrorist. Terrorism evolving from our fear of the “other” – whether that be an “other” gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, race, political party or religion.
(Read a reflection by Rev. John H. Thomas, Former General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ)
Jesus said in scripture, John 14:27b (ESV), “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Jesus knew that a heart afraid cannot act with agape (1) love. Therefore, God ransomed Christ’s life so that we could overcome fear and our own inner terrorist and extremisms. Every day and especially today, let God’s love towards us show up as agape love towards others. In this way, our acts of love can conquer hate.
With Agape Love,
Avalon Betts-Gaston, Project Manager
Illinois Alliance for Reentry and Justice
Avalon serves as a member of the CRS Board of Directors and is the co-chair of our Restoring Opportunities and Justice Reform Committee. Avalon describes herself as a “Servant of Christ, community builder of compassionate justice and apprentice of agape love”.
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(1) Agape is a Greco-Christian term that translates to mean love unconditionally. It is believed to be the highest expression of love – unfailing and unabridged.
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On September 11, 2001, in his capacity as General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, Rev. John H. Thomas was visiting church partners in Germany. On the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of those events he shares recollections as well as reflections on the significance of the day for himself, the church, and the world in the ensuing years. He shares, “The cascading tragedy in Afghanistan only seems to confirm the timeliness of this kind of reflection.” Read Rev. Thomas’ full reflection, Are We Still of Any Use?