Walking the Line

Remember when you got in trouble in elementary school and had to sit on the curb during recess? Yeah, me neither. I have heard stories from “friends” though. Any infractions of the rules, and one ended up planted on the curb watching friends spin on the merry-go-round, hang upside down on the monkey bars, or teeter on the totter. This is not the case today. With the rise in childhood obesity, children are no longer allowed to sit during recess. Punishment must contain some type of movement. In my children’s school this movement is known as “walking the line.” My kids attend a school right in the center of town. With no grassy area around the school, the pick-up line area serves as a playground during the day. Because of this, there is a long yellow line that separates the recess area from the car line. Getting the picture yet? If a student needs to be given a behavioral consequence, instead of sitting down watching friends, he must walk back and forth on this line for as long as his teacher deems necessary. My husband really wants to dress in all black and do a Johnny Cash impersonation next time my son gets to Walk the Line.


I have been thinking a lot about walking the line over the past few days. With all that is going on in Washington this week, my Facebook newsfeed has been ablaze with passion. I have many friends who have changed their profile pictures in support of marriage equality. Just has many have posted concerning traditional marriage. I have seen images of those on both sides of the issue holding signs, yelling, anger personified in their eyes. Looking at them, other images flash before my eyes. Protesters against gun control. Protesters for pro-choice. Protesters against the war. What do all these images have in common? A line. A line that divides. A line that puts people against one another.

As a follower of Jesus, what am I supposed to do with this? Don’t tell me what I need to believe and what side I need to be on. I mean what am I to do with this line of division that separates us? I have people I deeply care for on both sides of every issue. If I stand with one side, I am ultimately saying I am against those on the other. I am not saying it is wrong for people to take a stand for what they believe. It’s just that sometimes while standing, we begin to view those on the other side of the line as our enemies. We form an us against them mentality. Instead of seeing the individuals across from us, we view them as a mass which has formed as an opposition to our personal agenda.

So again, I am faced with the question of what to do? If I am to walk in the shoes of Jesus, not to sound like a cheesy 1990’s bracelet, what would Jesus do? He would look at that line of division and walk right down it. He would look into the eyes of those on both sides knowing their hopes and hurts. He would pass out food if people got hungry. (I’m sure he’d have enough for everyone.) He would pass out water if people got thirsty. (Might even make some wine if they really needed it.) He would touch hands and heal hearts. He would wash the feet of gays, homophobes, pro-lifers, abortion doctors, gun toters, gun haters, vegetarians, chili dog eaters, and yes even country music lovers. Would he tell them they were all right? No. Would he tell them they were all wrong? No. He would tell them all to go and sin no more. All of them. Even the ones on your side. Even you. Even me. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

As I reflect on this Good Friday and all my Jesus did for me, I am most thankful to Him for walking the line. Walking the line that led him up a hill to His death. As he walked, those around Him were on the other side, but He did not protest. In fact, He pleaded to His father to forgive them. With His last breath, He whispered, “It is finished.” I pray that is our focus today. We walk the line loving all those around us. With us, let the line of division be finished.