Imagine what would happen if one day everything changed. Overnight, your whole world was different; and without much emotional or physical preparation, you were given no choice but to begin a very long journey into an unknown and scary
future. Our Torah portion this week tells the tale of Abraham, and how God's unexpected command to "Lech Lecha" - "Go Forth" and leave his home left Abraham wandering off to an uncertain destiny. Whether Republican or Democrat (or neither), the results of this week's election have left us feeling a lot like Abraham; with lives full of tremendous change and upheaval. And, like Abraham, regardless of whether we're excited or fearful of what lies ahead, our only option is to start walking into it. The real question now is, what can and should we make of this experience? What can we learn, and how can we grow? Our country, and indeed our world, is very fractured; how can we try and heal together, and can Abraham give us some advice along the way?
Make no mistake, this was a terrifying moment for Abraham. In the ancient world, people just didn't DO things like this. They didn't leave home, family, tribe, and security to wander off into the desert with few
resources and no final destination. God said, "Start walking!" and eventually a goal would reveal itself. How can any of us follow Abraham's example? How do we close our eyes, give over control of self, family, and community, take that leap of faith, and trust that good things await on the other side? Sometimes it is hard - almost impossible - to feel that kind of trust. Eventually, however, Abraham arrived, and he became successful and prosperous. Even his nephew, Lot, did well. And then we read a fascinating incident in the story, which also speaks so powerfully to us at this very moment in our lives.
Abraham had flocks and herdsmen; Lot had flocks and herdsmen. And in a great nod to the classic Western movie, Abraham declared, "This town isn't big enough for the both of us!" He approached Lot and said, "Let there be no strife between
you and me, between my herdsmen and yours, for we are brethren. Is not the whole land before you? Let us separate: If you go left, I'll go right; if you go right, I'll go left." (Gen. 13:8-9) Does this quote not speak to precisely where we are at right now? Some of us lean left, others lean right, and it sure does feel like this place cannot sustain all of us together. And yet, we are brethren! The text actually even goes further than that. The Hebrew for "brethren" in our text is "Anashim Achim." It's a strange formulation, which we might literally translate as "we are human beings; we are brothers." We MUST see the humanity in The Other, AND we also need to keep reminding ourselves and one another that we are sisters and brothers.
These were painful moments for Abraham; leaving his home and then separating from Lot. And these are painful, chaotic, uncertain times for us as well. The thing is, we do not have the option of Lot and Abraham.
We cannot draw a dividing line, a border or a wall, and split off to the right and the left. We are in this thing together, and we need to figure out how to move forward TOGETHER. One thing that Abraham's story certainly teaches us is that progress and discovery come from dramatic change. Would any of us be here if Abraham had stayed in Haran, maintaining the status quo? Chaos and upheaval also bring opportunity, bravery, and daring. I certainly pray that we can draw strength from the lessons of Genesis, and begin to heal the deep wounds of our country. The time has come to "go forth"; let us see what awaits on the other side.
Photos in this blogpost:
1. CC image courtesy of Fordmadoxfraud on Wikimedia Commons
2. CC image courtesy of Superscramble on Wikimedia Commons
3. CC image courtesy of Howcheng on Wikimedia Commons
4. CC image courtesy of Roger McLachlan on Wikimedia Commons
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