Let’s travel together back to the summer of 1987. The Cold War was reaching its climax. Would the world end in a nuclear war?
Maybe. Maybe not.
Do you remember, in particular, the bold speech of President Ronald Regan, who sternly pointed his finger at the Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, commanding him to, “Tear down this wall!”
That is, the Berlin Wall, which divided East and West Germany.
(Yes, I was alive in 1987. I might have only been an infant, but I was alive!)
Reagan’s famous quote, “Tear down this wall!”, reminded the world just how much walls divide us. Peace would only be possible without forced separation. After all, walls are meant to divide; it’s their purpose, to keep people out.
Think about how often walls are still used to separate nations, communities, families, and friends…
Now I’m not seeking to enter into a political discussion — I’ll let the news shows do that. But what I am suggesting is that our ability as people to erect physical walls points to a deeper tendency within all of us.
We’re all guilty of putting up emotional walls, barriers in our minds and hearts meant to prevent people from hurting us, to keep them out. Such walls can be subtle, or even quite pronounced.
They can be found in marriages, families, friendships, and in our relationship with God. Wherever two people exist, there is the potential for a wall.
***
Think about some of the more painful experiences we’ve had in life. Some of us may have been bullied or experienced the sting of prejudice. Others may have lost a loved one, suffered a broken heart, or the pain of divorce.
These experiences wound us. They hurt! And often we put walls up to protect ourselves from being hurt again.
We can even erect little, temporary walls. How many of us have given someone the “silent treatment” or held a grudge? These, too, are meant to create distance, to keep people out.
And while protective, walls come at a cost.
They impede us from entering into nurturing relationships. Even psychologists admit we are relational beings; we are happiest when we feel accepted and affirmed, part of a broader community.
***
What are the walls that I’ve put up? How do I block people out?
And, more importantly, am I willing to tear these walls down, one by one?
The more we do that, the happier we will be. Just look at God.
***
The Gospel tells us that God is three distinct Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. But they love one another so intensely that they are inseparable. They are one.
Thus, in God there are no walls.
God is perfect, unconditional love.
That is key for us. If God loves without any walls, then we should try to do the same.
***
Imagine your home without arguments. Imagine a marriage where compliments are commonplace. Imagine watching children share their clothes and toys, not worrying about what is “mine.”
Imagine social media without bullies, a world without racism, without prejudice, without violence. Imagine every human heart without a beat of greed, poverty, jealousy, or hatred.
Imagine a world where everyone is loved, where everyone has a reason to smile. Imagine a world without walls.
That would be a Christian world.
That is why God created us, to love and serve one another, to live in harmony.
In reality, that vision starts right here – in our own hearts, in our own homes, in our own families, in our own community. Will we take the first step?
***
If we do, then we can end the “cold war” of hatred and prejudice one heart, one person at a time.
Because the more we live in harmony, the more we reflect the inner life of God…and who doesn’t want to do that?