Let’s talk about divisions. 

On the one hand, boundaries are good. We put down markers to divide one space from another, to distinguish the public from the private, to delineate ourselves from everything else. When it comes to confidences, people need “safe containers, not leaky vessels.” 

Holding and respecting boundaries are where we find wisdom and faithfulness. 

On the other hand, boundaries can create silos and conflicts. They can segregate people and create disunity. 

People talk about ‘divisive’ topics, or say that certain political figures are ‘divisive.’ But much of the time, these aren’t what divide people. The divisions were already there, it’s just that the underlying disunity has been exposed. 

When that happens, we lose the luxury of believing we were on the same page. And it disappoints, exhausts and hurts. 

Continue reading Christmas 2020: Week 5, Day 4: Empires →