A Year of Suffering
I’m a white male. What that means is that I’m a person for whom neither the color of my skin nor my gender have ever been an obstacle. I’ve had other obstacles, but not those.
And so there’s a part of me that feels unqualified to speak into the current moment. I can’t fully understand the pain of those suffering from COVID-19 (Oh, yeah… remember that?). And I especially can’t understand the pain of those who have lived under a system of racial oppression in our country for the past four hundred years.
I feel the need to do something, but I don’t know what.
So, in this moment, I feel like all I can do is lament. Lament the brokenness of our world. Lament the fact that we are still so far from the shalom that God wants for the world. Lament with the recognition that I need to say YES to God’s calling…
So, here is my lament for 2020.
A Lament for 2020
How long, Lord?
How long will our world be ravaged by disease?
How long will will this pandemic last?
How long until the healing we need arrives?
How long, Lord?
How long must our black and brown brothers and sisters live in fear?
How long until they feel free to go for a drive, sit peacefully in the park, play in the ocean waves?
How long, Lord?
How long until those of us with lighter skin become aware of the privilege we’ve been afforded?
How long will we believe we’re somehow even slightly superior than our darker-skinned siblings?
How long until we live in a world that actually provides justice for all?
How long, Lord?
How long will the world be divided?
How long will those who have been created in your divine image continue to erect walls of hostility?
How long until we can finally embrace and love one another without fear, without judgement, and with complete abandon?
How long, Lord?
When will you step in?
When will you bring an end to disease?
When will you bring an end to poverty?
When will you bring an end to racism?
When will you bring an end to violence?
When will you bring an end to injustice?
How long, Lord?
How long until I finally say…
“Here am I. Send me.”