For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.
Ephesians 2:14 

When I read this scripture, I want to believe that it is true of us as a church family, a community, a country and a world. I listen to the voices in the news and on social media and I often find a different reality. Some of those voices are those of family, friends and acquaintances. There is so much anger and hatred (born of an unforgiving spirit), prejudice, division and self-righteous pride. Sometimes I struggle to process the things I hear and see.

In him (Christ Jesus) the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord: in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.
Ephesians 2:22

 We in the church are called to knock down walls of hate and hostility and to build bridges of love and reconciliation.
From Some Folks Feel the Rain Others Just Get Wet by James W. Moore

Is that not exactly what we, as God’s Family, are called to do? I cannot build bridges of love and reconciliation if I carry nastiness around in my heart and soul. I cannot make a change in the next person that God puts in front of me if my focus is on serving myself.  Let’s get real here…I cannot even see the person in front of me if I am self-involved in any way. If I look at you and decide that I do not like you because you are different from me, how can I see what is in your heart? How can I reach you if I am not willing to let you see my own flaws and insecurities?

When I allow you to see me mess up, I give you permission to be yourself. If you can be yourself with me, and I with you, we have built a bridge that will allow us to move (freely) back and forth between your reality and mine. That will give us the time to understand and appreciate our differences.

Let’s get this right. Let’s do our homework here and not allow ourselves to be delusional in thinking that we do not have any work to do. We can be God’s Family, but it requires each one of us to do what is necessary to rid our hearts of what separates us from others.