for our struggle is not against blood and flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on the evil day and, having prevailed against everything, to stand firm. (Ephesians 6:12-13)

              If you ever wonder how I go about writing these meditations each week, I start by opening up the Bible Gateway website (biblegateway.com) and reading the “Verse of the Day.” And while I don’t always use that verse as sometimes it doesn’t spur my imagination, most of the time it gives me something to think about.

              In light of struggles happening around the country and around the world, as well as my own personal health struggle, the reading from Ephesians today certainly gave me something to think about.

               Whatever your own struggle may be today, whether global or personal, consider what tools you want to bring to bear. Too often we bring force and violence to our struggles. We talk of being at war, in the trenches, doing battle. We label the other side as terrorist, evil, a threat to our way of life. Soon, our violent thoughts and violent language turns to violent action.

              Instead we are called to “take up the whole armor of God” which Ephesians goes on to describe as truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and the Spirit that is with us. Jesus called us to pray for our enemies and even those who persecute us, turn the other cheek and do to others what we want others to do to us.

              I weep for the violence happening in our world today. I imagine many of you do too. As Christians, we need to respond for we are called to care for one another. As followers of Christ, we need to respond in for non-violent ways.

              As Martin Luther King Jr said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” May we face all our struggles with light and with love.