On October 1, the start of a new fiscal year, the U.S. government was forced to cease all non-essential operations after Congress was unable to agree on funding. Both sides of the political aisle blame the other for the shutdown. But this is a gross oversimplification that obscures the truth.
Truth is the seed of peace.
Democratic representatives point to rising healthcare costs as the reason they’re unwilling to support the current administration’s proposed budget, which includes over $1.2 trillion in cuts to federal spending, primarily from Medicaid and nutrition funding programs. It also introduces work requirements for Medicaid recipients, which could result in the loss of coverage for millions. These measures disproportionately impact rural hospitals, which serve populations with higher rates of chronic illness and limited access to alternative healthcare options.
The damage done by the most recent budget approval is already being felt. For example, Glenn Medical Center, the only hospital in rural Glenn County, California, closed on September 30, marking the end of 75 years of service to the community.
According to an article in The Guardian by Dani Anguian, the closure was due to the loss of its critical access hospital designation by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), a decision based on a technicality regarding the distance to the nearest hospital. This has left the county’s 28,000 residents without essential emergency and ongoing care, sparking outrage and concern among the community.
Experts warn that if Democrats give in to the massive cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, this will have devastating effects on hundreds of rural hospitals, which rely more on federal funding from the US’s most extensive public health insurance programs.
This standoff underscores the profound impact that decisions, whether made by individuals or institutions, can have on the well-being of others. It serves as a stark reminder of the importance of truth and transparency in all aspects of life, especially when it concerns matters of health and safety.
The truth is starting to come out about an incident in Chicago, where the Reverend David Black, of the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago, was shot in the head with pepper balls while praying in front of an ICE facility. The pastor spoke to CNN’s Erin Burnett in his first television interview since the incident happened.
Video footage captured by a bystander shows masked ICE agents on the rooftop of the facility firing pepper balls at the protesters below. Black, who was wearing his clerical collar and had his arms outstretched in prayer, was struck directly on the head. The impact caused him to fall to his knees. After he was hit, agents continued to fire, hitting him multiple times in the torso, arms, and legs. He claimed he could hear the agents laughing.
In response to a lawsuit alleging that federal agents illegally suppressed First Amendment rights with excessive force, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order against the federal government. This order restricts the use of force and crowd-control measures against protesters and journalists at the Broadview facility.
The claim that climate change is a hoax is the most devastating of the lies coming out of Washington. Unfortunately, the truth behind policies is nearly impossible to uncover. And most journalists seem to be afraid to call out lies or report news that may be seen as contradicting the administration’s rhetoric.
We live in a world where it’s tempting to hold on to illusions, to stories we tell ourselves and others to make life feel safer or happier. In this week’s reading from our companion book, Hai faces the consequences of living in such a world. Grazina’s health is failing, and Hai must confront not only her reality but the lies he has told—both to her and to himself.
Hai’s struggles reflect the personal consequences of avoiding the truth. Just as Hai faces the repercussions of his past actions, communities and nations also bear the weight of decisions made without complete honesty or consideration.
The closure of rural hospitals is a tangible example of how neglecting the truth can lead to real harm. How often do we cling to comforting stories, delusions, or half-truths to avoid facing hard realities? And what happens when the truth finally confronts us?
They bandage the wounds of my people as if they were not very deep… Are they ashamed of their hateful actions? They feel no shame at all. They do not even know how to blush.
Jeremiah 6:13-15
During the time of the Prophet Zechariah, the people of Israel had returned from exile in Babylon. The temple was in ruins, Jerusalem was a shadow of its former self, and the community was fragile and divided. Through the prophet Zechariah, God called them not just to rebuild their city but to rebuild their integrity.
These verses come from a moment of hope and warning. God promises restoration—prosperity, peace, and the return of joy—but ties that promise to a moral condition: you must live truthfully with one another.
God’s people could not rebuild their nation with stones alone. They had to rebuild trust. God knows that truth is the seed of peace.
Therefore, this week we’re calling ourselves out to confront the truths in our own lives, communities, and our nation. By embracing honesty and transparency, we can slow down the erosion of trust and ensure that we do not inadvertently cause harm to those God calls us to serve and protect.
Let this story inspire us to reflect on our own actions and the truths we may be avoiding, and to commit to living with integrity and compassion. Remember that truth is the seed of peace.
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Pastor Tommy
Our companion book for this series is Ocean Vuong. The Emperor of Gladness. NY: Penguin Press, 2025.
Dani Anguiano. “Rural US town outraged as only hospital forced to shut: ‘I would have died without it’.” © The Guardian, October 7, 2025. Retrieved from: Link
Erin Burnett. “Chicao Pastor Shot by ICE speaks to CNN.” © CNN, October 10, 2025. Retrieved from: Link.