Character References

Character References By Mark D. Stucky If I applied for new employment, should I write down for my references my malicious manager who mistreats workers, my onetime teammate serving prison time, my drug-dealing cousin crashing in a crack house, or long-lost relatives living in unknown locations? If I used such rogue references, could I honestly expect acceptance? Yet, Jesus applied for the job of Redeemer of humanity and, for references, he is using us, rogue saints and reformed sinners, who all too often fail our calling to love all other people and pursue righteousness. With character references as checkered as Christians are, can Jesus expect acceptance by the rest of the world? (First published in Calla Press, 9 April 2022. See also my poems “Hate Vacuuming?” and “What Would Jesus Tweet?”) (Image by Van Tay Media on Unsplash.com.)