I'm finding myself less and less able to respond in my own words to the acts of violence that have become part of our everyday lives. Yesterday, two bombs exploded at the Boston Marathon, killing three so far and wounding more than one hundred. Meanwhile, the US military bombed an Afghan wedding party, killing at least 30 and wounding more. Meanwhile, tear gas was fired on students in a clash with police in Bahrain. Meanwhile, at least 40 people are dead and more wounded after car bombs went off in five Iraqi cities. Meanwhile...
The world trembles out of control.
The violence builds,
some by
terrorism,
some by
state greed
dressed
up as policy,
violence
on every side.
You, in the midst of the out-of-control-violence.
We confess you steadfast, loyal, reliable,
but we
wonder if you yourself are engaged in brutality.
We confess you to be governor and ruler,
but we
wonder if you manage.
We in the midst of out-of-control violence,
we in great
faith,
we in deep
vocational call,
we in our
several anxieties.
We—alongside you—in the trembling.
This day we pray for freedom to move
beyond fear
to caring,
beyond self
to neighbor,
beyond
protection to growth.
That we may be a sign of the steadfastness,
that
anxiety may not win the day.
You are the one who said, “Do not be anxious.”
And now we submit to you.