Saturday morning, I got a beautiful message from a Presbyterian pastor thanking me for something I wrote and quoting Jesus from the Bible: “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with God.”

The message touched me, it is also in the Old Testament. I have not converted to Christianity, I think organized religion is not the place for me, but I am a lifelong admirer of Jesus Christ (please, do not send me more messages about how I am going to burn in Hell for not embracing Jesus as the Son of God, I’m prepared to pay for my sins, thanks.)

But we all have our own God to answer to, and mine is also asking me what I require of myself in a time of enduring argument, conflict, misunderstanding and anger. I think we all, on whatever side, will have to choose how we want to handle what is a great spiritual challenge as well as a political one.

I have many good good friends who voted differently than I did and feel differently, we are resolved to keep talking with one another and listen to one another, that is what is required of me. I appreciate them, I always learn from people who disagree with me, I believe in an open mind.

Saturday, thinking about this lovely message from the pastor – she wanted to use some of my writing in her sermon – I was moved suddenly – and strongly – to go into a vast antique store with lots of old jewelry. I told the owner, an aging hippie with white dreadlocks down to his navel, if he had any crosses to sell.

I believe Christ sought to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly. This is the path, I think.

The store owner said he had plenty of crosses, he walked me over to a giant case,  unlocked and handed me a felt display bar that was two feel long, there were a dozen crosses on it, gold and silver ones, some with jewels, etches, engravings, different sculpted figures. I said I wanted a simple one to wear and he pulled out this sterling silver one, he said he liked it, it was simple and dignified

The sticker said $24 but he told me it was only $18 for me, there was a sale going on and I agreed to his price.

I put this cross on – it fit right away – and I am grateful to have it. I want to wear it for as long as there is so much anger and argument raging around the world, I am requiring myself to not argue my beliefs, not dismiss the beliefs of others. I want to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with my God.

What, Maria asked me – by now, nothing surprises her about me – what does it mean to “walk humbly,” and this was a difficult question to answer, I am not the humblest person in the world. Humility is precious to me, but not always easy to summon.

Walking humbly for me means listening, not arguing. If means living my life well, and by example, not self-righteousness. I am no better than anyone else, people are not evil or stupid because they disagree with me.

I want to be merciful to the needy and oppressed, I want to be tolerant of my brothers and sisters who see the world differently than I do. Difficult sometimes. I believe in the truth, but I do not own the truth. I know we all have our own truths and live in them.

So I will wear the cross and touch it and think of  it whenever I am drawn to argument, to contempt, to panic and hysteria. It has some mojo, I can feel it. I want it to ground me, we are all in for a long and bumpy ride, and my wish is to keep my faith and values and humanity intact.

I hope I can take it off one day, when we all or most of us have learned to speak with one another again.

i bought the cross because it will comfort me, and it already has and remind me of who I wish to be.