The following article was published in the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram on June 9, following the highly contentious recall election in Wisconsin.

As citizens of the Chippewa Valley we have this past week gone through a trying time. With a recall election for a local senate seat, as well as the gubernatorial race, we were bombarded with not only negative ads and an unbelievable amount of campaign spending but also endured vitriol and anger that was expressed between passionate individuals and groups. On Wednesday morning about 60% of us were ecstatic about the results, and about 40% of us were left licking wounds and feeling despondent. Yet wise people on both sides of the aisle have come to realize that healing is needed as we move forward – a fact stated by both Governor Walker and Mayor Barrett in their speeches Tuesday evening. Yet the question remains for many of how we can do that.

In his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said the following: “So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5: 23-24). First we note that Jesus is talking about brothers and sisters – people whom we love and care for. Is that not our status as citizens of our state and the Chippewa Valley? I believe we all care about the issues and people that are before us, regardless of our political affiliations or employment area. The question is how we best go about doing that. So secondly Jesus says that we must stop what we are doing (even a wonderful thing like expressing our worship to God!) and begin to reconcile with those with whom we have a difference or a problem. It is only by a willingness to engage in honest conversation (not just argument and protesting or yelling back and forth) with those with whom we disagree that healing and reconciliation will happen. Due to political pressures politicians may not be able to do this. But as citizens, who live in the real world and interact with neighbors day after day, we must. Otherwise the negative, partisan and destructive atmosphere of recent political campaigns will only continue and worsen; I don’t believe anyone truly wants that.

Jesus modeled this behavior. He had numerous encounters with Pharisees and religious leaders, people who opposed his views and perspectives. Jesus stood his ground, and voiced his challenges; so did the Pharisees. Their exchanges weren’t always the nicest. Still, Jesus didn’t walk away from them. He continued to engage them, to talk to them. He welcomed the support of some of them, like Nicodemus, even if they weren’t fully on board. Certainly the Roman Empire stood against everything Jesus represented. Yet Jesus was willing to engage Roman citizens and soldiers, even healing the centurion’s servant. Jesus famously reached out to prostitutes, tax collectors and other ‘sinners,’ people who lived in ways contrary to the ideals of the Kingdom of God; he engaged these people with positive words and encouragement rather than just saying how they were ‘wrong.’

We are not just Democrats and Republicans. We are not just business leaders and union leaders. We are not just conservatives and liberals. We are citizens of Wisconsin, and residents of the Chippewa Valley, who have mutual needs, concerns and values. It is my hope that we could claim and follow the teachings of Jesus as we seek to bring healing into our lives, schools, work places and homes. I pray we are willing to work at it too, for the alternative will simply be more of the same.

Rev. Eric G. Nielsen, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church – Eau Claire WI

This article was published in the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram's Religion page on Saturday, June 2, 2012

On May 23, our son, Jens, walked across the stage of the Altoona High School gym, receiving his high school diploma. As with all parents, I think this walk across the platform is such a joyous moment. My wife Lisa and I have watched him struggle in some classes and soar in others. We sometimes had to push him to get his homework done, while other activities he tackled without abandon. We are proud of him. And now we ponder and dream about how his life will develop and grow in his next chapters.

The coming Sunday, the 3^rd, our congregation will recognize and celebrate with the graduates in our church family. Some are from high school, some from college or other advanced degrees. But for all people, a graduation is a milestone and a great achievement. And I always wonder what it is that God has in store next in their lives. What will be their mark in the world?

Molly is a black lab, and a member of our household. We try to get her out for walks regularly, as do many other dog owners in our neighborhood. Our house is unique, however, in that we have a fire hydrant right next to our driveway. So it is pretty common to see one of the neighborhood dogs, while on a stroll, walk over to the hydrant and ‘leave their mark.’ It is such a dog thing. They will urinate on a spot as a way of telling all other dogs that they have been there. I guess it is the canine version of a Hallmark greeting card.

This all gets me to thinking – what marks do we leave behind as people of faith? How do people know there is a faith community in their midst? What will be our legacy in the world? Each week in our worship service we sing, “They’ll know we are Christians by our love.” That’s good. But what does that look like in our daily lives and interactions with people?

The “Foundations of Presbyterian Polity” found in the opening pages of our Presbyterian Book of Order there is a section entitled “The Marks of the Church.” These marks are:

· Unity – There is only one Church. “One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all” (Eph. 4: 5-6).

· Holiness – In Christ, God has taken away the sin of the world. This is a reality we celebrate every week in worship as we confess our sin and celebrate the grace of God.

· Catholicity - In the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ God overcomes our alienation and repairs our divisions. This is part of our never-ending work for justice in the world.

· Apostolicity – God has sent us into the world to share the Gospel; this we strive to do through the testimony of our lips and our lives.

This is all good stuff. But it still forces us to consider the question how we each, specifically, make our mark, or leave our mark, in our community. As we celebrate the milestones of our young people at this time of the year and look forward to them making their marks in the world may we all take seriously the marks we are making in the world in the name of our risen Lord Jesus Christ.