This week Kathy and I are keeping our granddaughters, age 9 and 4. They are keeping us busy but I also find myself watching them and wondering what kind of world they are going to grow up in. They are so innocent at this stage and have no worries about their future or awareness of the news in our country these days.
The attempted assassination of a former president, the increasing violence not only by weapons of destruction but weapons of words is heating up the already scorching temperature outside. I wonder about the soul of our nation and wonder how we can get back to some sense of civility and unity.
And so I pray and I remember the Easter story where God reverses even death on a cross. But even at best I often feel like I have no words that are adequate.
And so something my friend Gary Furr wrote hits home for me: “Another long gun. More thoughts and prayers. Endless opinions and emotions. A tidal wave of violence in our land. A torrent of posts and memes. I am without any word today but these: Lord have mercy.”
As I said in worship Sunday, we need to listen to a different channel. The news on TV and in the morning paper shouts out death and division and brokenness. The news of the Kingdom is that God is still on the throne and calls forth our trust and hopes as never before. I pray that not only for you and me and our world but for the world my granddaughters will grow up in.
Brave Journey, Bill
