Repairing the world

In late October, I plan to go to Penn State Harrisburg to watch a newly released documentary titled "Repairing the World." The film describes the aftermath of the shooting at Tree of Life synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh on October 27, 2018, the deadliest attack on a Jewish community in the United States. Eleven were killed and six wounded, including Holocaust survivors.

"Repairing the World," in Hebrew "tikkun olam," describes the logical outcome of a Torah life or a Tree of Life life. The Torah is a Tree of Life. For Christians, who see the cross as our Tree of Life, tikkun olam or repairing the world flows from the sacrificial love of Jesus. Because God loves us, we love each other. 

Our love for others leads Christians to reject extremism, hate speech and antisemitism. The survivors of the attack on Tree of Life synagogue decided, in the aftermath of that horrible day, to not just survive, but to live out the character of a Torah life and were all the more determined to be who they were created to be by living, loving and serving in their community. Tikkun olam ... they became repairers of the world.

During this time, when our country seems so deeply divided, cast your lot with the bridge builders. Be the one who uses your gifts for tikkun olam. Be a repairer of the world!

Blessings!
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Pastor Geib