Lord of the past, present and future, sometimes I have this view of you pushing your hair back, in exasperation, and wondering when will we return to you and listen. Just once in our lives – really listen, then do something. It must be so vexing to you when we do something then complain – but is it? – or are we jumping in with our usual human need to apportion blame. Are we ascribing human irritation about unexpected attitudes to you who knows all things and understands only too well what will be the outcome.
We look at the Greek debt crisis engulfing the euro-zone like some kind of train crash that keeps on happening – and wonder why no one foresaw the outcome.
We look at the number of untreated malaria cases, in Guinea especially, and of people afraid to attend clinics because of the risk of Ebola – someone should have realized this would happen.
We look at Charleston, South Carolina, in the U.S. where underlying racial tension is finally being addressed in reality with the impending removal of the Confederate Flag from current history – we wonder how long it will take for reconciliation to be recognized as necessary for a healthy society of human diversity.
We look at the heatwave crisis in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province – shouldn’t more have been done to control our lack of control in the use of energy, as the situation is exacerbated by power cuts.
We look at Australia attempting to change its citizenship laws and shudder at the idea of children made stateless.
We look at Peru and the uncovering of a mass grave, possibly of farmers kidnapped by Shining Path in the 1980’s, and wonder – how many more times in how many more countries will such atrocities occur.
We look at 3 months of air strikes in Yemen – how many more for how much longer?
We look at deepening drought and increasing wildfires in California; at the severe storm pattern cutting through the Midwest in the U.S. and wonder – how much longer, how much more can the earth bear?
Lord, we are exasperated – with ourselves, with those we thought could find solutions, with those we think are creating the conditions. As I reflected on the news to share in prayer, there is yet more news that ISIL has re-entered the Syrian town of Kobane – more people killed, injured, captured, and tortured.
Come, Lord, gives us the patience to listen first; to wait on your answer; and then to be it.
(Psalm 30: 5-6) I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, / and in his word I hope; / my soul waits for the Lord / more than those who watch for the morning…
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