Friday Prayer

One to Whom Revenge Belongs,
I feel almost nothing but rage and grief. 

I am surrounded by those who make a mockery of truth, honesty, and justice.
Their yes is “if it pleases me”. 
Their no is “if it pleases me”.
Their vows are fulfilled on the bodies of people slain just for living while black or brown or indigenous or transgendered or or or or or… 

These blasphemers do not wish to do right, do not wish to change, have no shame, will not be cowed. 
They look to me to assure them of Your grace, even as falsehoods fall from their lips and death comes from their hands. 
I will not.

Even David bowed his head in grief when confronted by Nathan, though I do think what You allowed to happen to Bathsheba was TOO MUCH and we will discuss THAT later.
Even David could be shamed. Even David. 

But these, God, these will NOT be shamed. 
They do not care. There is no truth in them and they do not care. 

I find that I am poorly equipped for a fight with those who intend to pursue their own ends and have no care for death, pain, self-control, or justice. 
I turn in circles, flapping my hands, trying to discern the next steps. 
How many times do we march to crash down this Jericho? 

No truths are self-evident. They must be fought for and clawed out of the tight white fists that will not release them, even unto death. 

Where are You? Where are You?
Haven’t we waited long enough for the harrowing of this hell? 

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The Reverend Julia Seymour serves Big Timber Lutheran Church (ELCA)  in Big Timber, MT. She blogs at lutheranjulia.blogspot.com and readsallthethings.com. She contributed to There’s A Woman in the Pulpit and is President of the board of RevGalBlogPals, Inc.

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