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Positive Mutuality
Joel Cooper
Mutuality abounds in our world, but all too frequently it manifests itself in attitudes such as mutual hatred, mutual prejudice, and mutual disrespect. Positive mutuality is unnatural for many and it takes time to develop. It takes faithful dedication to presence, community, peace, and justice.
While the other four Global Ministries’ values focus on actions, mutuality centers on feelings. It calls me to feel for others in the same way God feels for me. It is easy for us to feel this way for our significant others or for our children, but God says mutuality must extend outside our homes to every person, no exceptions.
Feelings are much more difficult to control than actions, but Jesus says they are no less important. I would like to think I am devoted to mutuality, yet sometimes I know my feelings toward my neighbors are not as loving as their feelings toward me, and I am ashamed. I rededicate myself to the other four values, and I pray that true mutuality will come. Mutuality is the largest barrier between me and God, and that is why I believe God has called me to take part in the presence, community, peace, and justice inherent to the work of Global Ministries.
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Joel Cooper, member of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Bloomington, Indiana, served as a Global Mission Intern with Church World Service East Africa in Nairobi, Kenya and with the Forum for Development, Culture and Dialogue in Beirut, Lebanon. His appointment was supported by your gifts to Week of Compassion, Disciples' Mission Fund, Our Church's Wider Mission and your special gifts.
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