Dear Pneuma,

In the movies, the hero often defeats fear by killing it.  Rage takes over and he destroys the vile, putrescent thing utterly.  In the movie Pan's Labyrinth, the heroine resists evil by loving herself and others, and though it kills her, she is transformed, as is the world around her, into something more vital, more alive.

As I read articles online, watch the morning news, and listen to the pundits, fundits and ondits, I pick up fear and rage.  I pick up distrust and posturing.  I pick up hopelessness and defeatism.  People are wearing spikes and spitting daggers at one another.  I hear imagery of rape and destruction being used as a release valve for the frustrations and impotencies people are experiencing.  People shout names and hang slogans on one another-as though the playground rules society.

In their fear of drowning, my neighbors try to out-scream one another for rescue, while never once testing the depth of the water.  Voiceless people, tired of living in shame and defilement, find comfort and solace in the idea that death is the greatest equalizer in world, and as they step wired onto trains and busses, nothing seems to be telling them anything different.

After that movie where the hero/ine minces evil into tiny pieces, there is always a sequel: some part of the monster always survives to wreak havoc on the future.  After that movie where resistance to dehumanization transforms the hero/ine, there is only peace, and the future is an open sky.

Christ in you claims transformation over domination.  Christ in you claims belief in the ground over the depth of waters.  Christ in you knows that liberation from captivity can transform this time.

Christ in us impels a response.  Christ in us says redeem the shamed, love the defiled, comfort those who mourn.   Christ in us says walk out the open door.  Christ in us says tomorrow is the better day.  Christ in us says we are not alone.  Christ in us says we are each others'.  Christ in us says act in trust.  Christ in us says choose relationship with our neighbors over possession of our own fields.  Christ in us says be willing to die thus-knowing that is how we live.

Claiming Christ,
Cobalt Dreams