What do we do when the systems we’ve trusted to keep order in our lives fail us?
What do we do when binary thinking takes ahold of those in power and the nuances of being human are dismissed in decision-making?
As Christians, what do we do with our angst about injustice, cruelty, and violence - for these are not the ways of the kingdom of God?
We Presbyterians take seriously doing things “decently and in order,” leaning first on Scripture and next on time-tested best practices which we call polity. Polity is the rules about the way we do things as a church, as noted in the first part of our PC(USA) Constitution called the Book of Order.
Similarly, the processes outlined in the Constitution of the United States are the recorded core values of our nation, which have been tested, reshaped, and honored through well-defined processes over time. These processes, put in place to make thoughtful, fact-based decisions about change for the good of the people, are being overstepped by those now in power who no longer honor many of them.
And the effects of this are hitting too close to home for me to be silent because I would then be complicit in the harm. First, there is Karim Daoud’s unjust detention, which continues indefinitely despite him being an upstanding and contributing community member – a bright light of kindness – living and working in this country legally for over 20 years. Can you imagine what it is like to languish behind bars for months apart from your family (when you have so much good to offer the world) and not know when you will be free again to go outside?
Just this week in Chicago, the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, a fellow alum of Princeton Seminary and colleague in ministry, was peacefully protesting and offering prayer when he was assaulted, shot in the face and head by pellets from a firearm discharged by ICE personnel, which injured him and brought him to his knees. What in the world?! How is this America?!
These and other signs clearly indicate that the tide of our country is turning away from the rule of law, and those in charge are not being held accountable for the harm they are doing to the people and policies of our nation.
No matter where you stand on the spectrum of politics, please read the statement released this week by our denomination’s Office of Public Witness reflecting the larger church’s deep concern about what is happening in our country: Click here
Please take care of yourselves and create boundaries of self-care, knowing that you may not have the bandwidth to care about it all, and that’s okay. Choose a slice of what you believe is broken and do something to focus on making that better. Stay grateful for the things that are right in your life, and pray for strength, wisdom, and courage for those who are affected, for those who are hurt, and for those in power to have compassion.
And for your spiritual nourishment: A clergy colleague in town shared this prayer with me and invited me to pray it every day at noon as a faith practice. I agreed to do so. This is our daily faith practice. Will you join us as well?
Open unto me – light for my darkness.
Open unto me – courage for my fear.
Open unto me – hope for my despair.
Open unto me – peace for my turmoil.
Open unto me – joy for my sorrow.
Open unto me – strength for my weakness.
Open unto me - wisdom for my confusion.
Open unto me – forgiveness for my sins.
Open unto me – tenderness for my toughness.
Open unto me – love for my hates.
Open unto me – Thy Self for my self.
Lord, Lord, open unto me.
From “Meditations of the Heart” by Howard Thurman
Thanks be to God for the FPC faith community, which helps keep us connected to each other and grounded in the truth of God’s unfailing promises. Lord, have mercy and show us the way of love.
Rev. Amy