We All Live Downstream

By Ron Matthews

"We all live downstream," a saying in the environmental community, expresses a fundamental truth about our physical, political and social environment. There is a wisdom found in the sacred writings of Judaism, Islam and Christianity, as well as most other religions, which I refer to as the "Rule of Reciprocity." Call it karma, call it reaping what we sow, call it justice, call it "everything that goes around comes around" or whatever, but this is the way the world works. The return on our actions does not always come immediately. It may wait until future generations, but sooner or later, paybacks make their way home. We all live downstream!

And so, when we rape the earth and poison our air and rivers, sooner or later, we are going to find a diseased salmon on our dinner plate or a malignancy in some vital organ. It is a law of physics that for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. I believe this is also true in our political and social life. If so, I must be aware that my words and deeds inevitably produce a response. The choices we make produce consequences that can bless or haunt us. We all live downstream!

The Middle East conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis is a case in point. It dates back to the days of Abraham and his two sons, Isaac, son of Sarah, and Ishmael, son of Hagar. Their story is found in the book of Genesis. It is perhaps an oversimplification to say the family has been feuding ever since.

Has God ordained this ongoing conflict? Or is it a result of the consequences of sinful humans who refuse to acknowledge the rights of those different from them? Why can't the Jews and Palestinians get along? The answers seem to be wrapped up in jealously, fear, greed, injustice and fanatical religious convictions. Instead of trying to coexist, one is forever trying to at best repress and at worst eradicate the other. There should be no surprise that violent reactions occur. We all live downstream!

What is wrong with the human race? The Bible states that sin is our foremost problem. This human dilemma is the reason God took such dramatic and incomprehensible action by "becoming flesh and dwelling among us" (John 1:14). The record of human history verifies the Bible's verdict. We have all sinned (Romans 3:23) and the weight of our common as well as personal sin continues to produce consequences. We all live downstream!

The reality of my sin is ever beside me. The mystery of God's grace is ever before me. In the words of Barbara Brown Taylor I confess, "I do not expect ever to solve the mystery of the cross, but I do take heart in the unlikely good news that the cross has already solved me."

Because of God's grace in Christ, his mercy flows on and I have chosen to stand in that stream under the shadow of the cross. I remain optimistic – not because the world is good or getting better, but because God is good and divine love endures forever. Our mission is to remain faithful, trust God, hold hands, and keep wading through the downstream mess we help create.

The hope and promise of Christ is that God will finally get us to the other side.

The Rev. Matthews is Holston Conference director of finance services and stewardship.

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