Do you live in a Christian nation? You are fortunate if you live in a country that is governed by the rule of law by the consent of the people, that respects civil rights and has a system of justice, that strives to secure and respect personal freedoms even if these things are done imperfectly. But it is not reasonable to expect your government to sponsor your faith journey. That is a journey that only you can commit to, and no government can make it happen even if it is benevolent, or thwart it even if it is hostile. I am your companion and guide on this journey.

How do you see yourself? Have you crafted an identity that you present to the world, the total of your hobbies and interests and education and profession and national origin, among others? But you are more than the sum of these things. I gave you a perfectly good identity that is intrinsic in your being; you don’t need to make one out of spare parts. Be careful how you define yourself, for the identity that you craft is one of distinctions that can leave you isolated from those who do not share them.

Do you have a sense of belonging? Is it attached to a narrowly defined group of people with a common belief or interest or characteristic? You may think of tribes as groups of primitive people, but the human desire to identify and belong exists in every person. Does your sense of belonging with some people leave you alienated and isolated from others? Can you see this effect as clearly in your group as you see it in others? Have you ever had an experience of belonging that wasn’t limited to a narrowly defined group, but rather belonging to the universe and eternity and humanity?

Do you believe in mercy and justice? Which do you think is more important? Can you see that it is difficult to have both at the same time? Do you find that people tend to lean toward one or the other? Those who prefer justice should have a high regard for the principles of justice. This would include a uniform standard applied to every person. But have you seen judgmental people who are eager to excuse their friends and condemn their enemies by holding them to different standards? So it is difficult to hold mercy and justice at the same time, but it is really easy to hold neither one.