Cho Eugene - Roadmap to Reconciliation Moving Communities into Unity, Wholeness and Justice

R econciliation. Lets be honest. Reconciliation has become a trendy topic of conversation... which isnt necessarily a bad thing. People are talking about it and thats good. There are gatherings, teachings, sermons, classes and entire conferences around the subject of reconciliation. But, if were not careful, it is quite possible and tempting to be more in love with the idea of reconciliation than to actually engage in the actual work of reconciliationthe arduous, painful and messy marathon work of reconciliation. Thats the pivotal question we must ask: Are we more in love with the idea of following Jesus than actually following Jesusincluding to and through some difficult areas?

One of my favorite (which often means challenging) stories from the Scriptures comes from John 4. One can talk about Samaria, theologize about Samaria, preach about Samaria, liturgize about Samaria, sing about Samaria... but one can still do all those things and still not walk through Samaria.

And this is precisely why Roadmap to Reconciliation by Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil is such an important book and resource. Salter McNeil not only does the critical job of explaining the vision of reconciliation but, equally as important, guides us through the practical steps of actually moving forward and toward reconciliation while constantly reminding us of the vision.

And while I certainly appreciate and applaud the practicalities of this book, Im especially grateful for the honesty and realness because the last thing we need is a glamorized or romanticized vision of reconciliation. Anyone who conveys that reconciliation work is easy either isnt on that journey or is trying to sell something.

But the books foremost credibility is directly associated with the integrity of the person whos inviting us to this journey of reconciliation. I prefer not to use words like leading, expert, guru or whatever other elevated phrases we use to describe people. What I knowas a longtime friend, fellow pastor and colleague in kingdom ministryis that Salter McNeil walks the walk. For her, this isnt just a course she teaches as a university professor, a sermon she preaches at a church or a set of consulting principles she imparts to institutions or organizations. This is a calling, a deep conviction and a journey she has devoted much of her life to, and it has permeated every aspect of her life.

We can all agree we are living in challenging times that demand the important and critical work of reconciliation. While its possible we may have a trajectory of where we need to go, we dont quite know how to get there. We need a map. We need a guide. We need a roadmap to reconciliation.