In Mark 10, Jesus meets a rich young ruler, who asks what he needs to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus’ answer? Sell what you have, and give to the poor. But the man can’t do it. He walks away, grieving.
And Jesus lets him leave.

My favorite verse from this story says this: “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” Love invites, challenges, engages, pulls close. But love, even the love of Jesus, sometimes accepting that people make choices we wish they wouldn’t.

Earlier this week, I met with leaders around Seattle to express an interfaith commitment to free, fair, safe, and honored elections (you can read the letter we wrote here. We wrote about our “foundational moral commitment to the dignity and rights of every human being. Elections are where that commitment becomes practice. . . Our traditions disagree about many things. On this we do not.”

What would it mean for you to love someone by letting them make their own choices? Even if you think those choices are horrible?
And how is God calling you recommit to preserving the dignity and rights of every human being?

Peace be with you, Meredith Dodd