This place is a mess. Russia, Ukraine, a new cold war looming, Syria, ISIS, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, Nigeria, Ebola, slavery at an all time high, the economy, income disparity, race relations, civil unrest... am I missing anything?
I think the thing that troubles me most is, this is humanity at its greatest. This is us at our apex. We have more money, more affluence, more education, more food, more leisure and more comfort, more technology, better health care and greater access to information than at any time in human history.
The level of pain, complexity of the issues, the lasting impact of today's decisions on tomorrow's circumstances only lead to a sense hopelessness.
And still, there is beauty in the world, life, love and reconciliation. Like good blues, painful lyrics mixed with captivating melody, underpinning the pain is something beautiful, something that gives us hope.
Something deep inside us tells us it shouldn't be this way. It motivates us to act, to weep, to speak out, to provoke change.
It tells us things won't always be like this, there will be a new day, a day of unity, a day of healing, a day of peace. We can taste it here, like a free sample in a chocolate shop, and it resonates with our soul.
In our quest to be free, free to live our own lives, find our own answers, make our own decisions, free from oppressive rules and lists of dos and don'ts, free to create a world we want, free from some God and his judgement, we have run from our hope and into despair.
But hope is out there. He is waiting for us. And is name is Jesus.
I think the thing that troubles me most is, this is humanity at its greatest. This is us at our apex. We have more money, more affluence, more education, more food, more leisure and more comfort, more technology, better health care and greater access to information than at any time in human history.
The level of pain, complexity of the issues, the lasting impact of today's decisions on tomorrow's circumstances only lead to a sense hopelessness.
And still, there is beauty in the world, life, love and reconciliation. Like good blues, painful lyrics mixed with captivating melody, underpinning the pain is something beautiful, something that gives us hope.
Something deep inside us tells us it shouldn't be this way. It motivates us to act, to weep, to speak out, to provoke change.
It tells us things won't always be like this, there will be a new day, a day of unity, a day of healing, a day of peace. We can taste it here, like a free sample in a chocolate shop, and it resonates with our soul.
In our quest to be free, free to live our own lives, find our own answers, make our own decisions, free from oppressive rules and lists of dos and don'ts, free to create a world we want, free from some God and his judgement, we have run from our hope and into despair.
But hope is out there. He is waiting for us. And is name is Jesus.
Something I read earlier today in a Nouwen book resonated as I read your blog, "The tears of grief and the tears of joy shouldn't be too far apart. As we befriend our pain--or, in the words of Jesus, "take up our cross"--we discover that the resurrection is, indeed, close at hand" Come Lord Jesus, Come!
ReplyDeleteWow. That's beautiful Jen. Thank's for sharing it.
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