"God's Gift in the Midst of Violence," Walter Brueggemann


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.