Streams of Mercy

This morning on the third hour of Today, Rabbi Steve Leder and Bishop Kenneth Ulmer joined Hoda and Jenna for a discussion about moving forward as a nation after a divisive presidential election. They talked about the need to listen to each other and remain hopeful for the future.

Acknowledging that some folks are “jubilant” and others are “bummed out” this morning, they spoke of how to mend the gap between groups. Humility, empathy and respect were mentioned as key ingredients. They agreed that real peace is not lack of disagreement, but disagreement with humility, empathy and respect. “We are not enemies; we are opponents with differing views, “ both agreed. The Rabbi observed that if we are shocked that nearly half of those voting have opinions different from ours, then we’ve been in our own little “bubble of ideas,” and we have much learning to do.

In these days that are the best of time and the worst of times, we must understand that God’s love is big enough to embrace our differences, and can help our love grow to do so as well. They encouraged praying for the losing party and for the winning party. They stressed the importance of listening to one another. Rabbi Leder remembered a teacher who once said to him, “I never learned much while I was talking; it was when listening that I learned.” Listening with humility, empathy and respect will bear much fruit. “America will be beautiful again when we crown our good with brotherhood and sisterhood,” said Rabbi Leder.

How to move forward? Little by little. Bishop Ulmer recalled a time in his childhood when he was walking down the street with his father, and a policeman called them the “n-word.” The Bishop said he carried that anger and distrust for years before he could understand that not all policemen were like that one. How did he heal? It happened “relationally,” and he gave thanks for his friendship with the Rabbi – “a gift from God”, he says, socially, psychologically, emotionally, personally.” He affirms that God bring people into our lives to help us to heal in our wounded and broken places.

The Rabbi and the Bishop left their listeners with a challenge, actually a commission - “Let’s take care of each other.” After days and weeks of watching people “talk at” each other, it was a blessing to see people “talking with” one another. May God help us to listen with humility, empathy and respect, and to take care of each other, and with God’s help, find our way forward as individuals and as a nation.

Elizabeth