I interrupt my Advent/Christmas messages for this public service announcement:

By the time you read this on the Sunday morning before Christmas, I will have spoken at a celebration of life for a beloved member of our community.

He was a dad, a son, a friend and a much loved co-worker.

He worked as a dispatcher for the Iowa State Patrol.

He was 61.

He happened to be gay.

He committed suicide the weekend before Thanksgiving.

In mid-December, another lovely soul chose to leave this earth by her own hand. She was 39. A powerful contributor to our community. She happened to be gay.

Friends, I don't care how you voted.

I don't care what you believe or don't believe about our gay neighbors or gay marriage.

I don't care what church or mosque or synagogue (or not) you belong to.

We MUST be more kind. We simply must.

We must be more compassionate, thoughtful, friendly, caring, observant, merciful, grace-full. People's lives depend on it.

And to my fellow Christ followers, we have no excuse. We must do better. Because above all else, we are called to love. Everyone. All the time. No matter what. This is the lowest of bars for those who follow Jesus. The lowest of bars ...

"Be kind for everyone is having a hard battle." (Ian McLaren - Scottish pastor)

"If you want to be holy, be kind." (Frederick Buechner - Presbyterian pastor)

"Love is patient. Love is kind ..." (1 Corinthians 13)

What if our "Project 2025" was to be more and more kind? What then?