You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 
Galatians 5:13-15

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Her grandmotherly hazel eyes brighten. Looking through the window pane, she sees and savors the early bloomers, her yellow daffodils. Snow melts in patches around the front yard garden. One flower sprouts near the snow line in partial sun. Another readies to bloom.  Their first arrival is now bursting in bright yellow trumpet-like blooms. She smiles. It offers hope and hints of new beginnings. And yet a winter storm is in the forecast. 

This is the feeling I get when I meditate on Galatians 5:13-15. Paul’s statement, “you were called to be free,” evokes hope. The promise that Christ’s followers have a new beginning gives joy, like the first yellow daffodils of early spring when winter storms are likely.

Paul storms, so to speak, to his brothers and sisters in Christ, “If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” Today’s politics, with its biting remarks and culture wars about pronouns, gender identity and changes, abortion restrictions and a woman’s own body, the definition of marriage and more, easily devour our patience, forgiveness and love of one another. I find the more I hear or read about these things, the less patience and more intense negative feelings arise inside me about trivial everyday matters such as having the right of way in traffic.

Paul’s winter storm warning is to watch out. Do not “indulge the flesh.”  Do not misuse social media. Do not overindulge in drinking. Do not put down those who vote differently than you. Do not be happy when something bad happens to another. Paul says not to indulge or give way to foolishness and sinfulness. The motivation behind these is the flesh of which he speaks.

“Rather serve one another humbly in love,” he says. And, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” This can feel like a tall order when you consider all the division in this world. But it can also be just as simple as showing up, like volunteering at the Care Center or your campus’s expression of local compassion and justice. Maybe in public institutions such as libraries, museums, hospitals, and nursing homes. Maybe it’s being a safe home for kids after school or simply caring for your neighbor’s cats and dogs while they are away. Of course, you could always plant perennials such as yellow daffodils in places where others can see them and enjoy them. Maybe they, too, as winter ends, will feel hope when the daffodils bloom early.

Next Steps

Make a list of political and social issues that offend you deeply. Although these are not people, you may be judging those who hold different views than you as enemies. Pick one issue to dive deeper into to understand better why people may feel the way they do about it. You might see how gaining understanding can help you to love well in your differences.