what to do with the current moment

When you combine passion and idolatry, things get funny in a way-- but mostly, all-too-serious and really ugly. We're seeing this from many sides these days.

Love is too rare. True tolerance is mostly in hiding. Faux unity is pushed by coercion toward uniformity and conformity.

Prejudices of many sorts are revealed. Ignorance and confirmation bias run rampant. Yet, self-righteousness reigns.

Rationalizations for sin-- mine and/or others. Finger-pointing instead of reflection and repentance. Us vs. them. I understand you well, but you can't possibly understand me at all. Pride trumps humility.

What to do: Join the madding crowd? Lay low and hunker down? Look in the mirror. Read liberally. (Or watch liberally if you won't read.) Take a breath or two. Do justice; love kindness; walk humbly with the God of grace (Mic 6:8; Amos 5:24). Repent-- not just them, but you and me.

Build relationships with people different than you. Immerse yourself in robust community. Do your best to engage with love and courage, knowledge and wisdom, empathy and compassion, grace and tact, with neither corruption nor negligence (Daniel 6:4).

And for those who have become children of God (Jn 1:12; Eph 2:8-9; Rom 6:23): "Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain." (Phil 2:14-16)