Why, O Lord, are you so distant?
Why do you stay so far away when trouble rises?
Do you not see your people suffering?
Can you not hear the prayers of the pained?
We are scared,
As every step taken feels like a walk in a land mine.
We don’t know where to go and no longer know what to say,
Will our next step only ignite a fuse?
Scared of the present,
Scared of the future.
Fearful of the unknown,
And we even fear what is known.
The gulf between each other is widening,
As competing ideologies fuel the division.
We cannot find common ground,
While distrust, suspicion, cynicism and jealousy prevail.
Socio-Economic division widens like the Grand Canyon.
Racial tensions feel like they will soon snap.
Social and Religious Ideologies collide like a train wreck.
Political Parties refuse to cross the isle.
Stereotypes are over used and have become our default mode.
Too many in the news media outlet are biased, unethical and bent.
We point the finger,
And we play the blame game;
With heels dug in and lines drawn,
The feeling is that the standoff will escalate into a fight.
We see the speck of dust in the eye of our opponent,
While ignoring that plank that blocks perspective in our proponent.
We look for a reason to hate and attack,
We stop learning to listen and to understand.
Tensions are rising,
Anxiety is increasing.
Anger simmers under the surface,
Because steam needs to be released.
We’re turning on each other,
Where we should be turning to each other.
Hear our prayer, O Lord,
Listen! As we cry out to you.
Intercede on our behalf,
And do not forget us.
Turn your Church into a haven of peace,
Teach your children to lay down their arms.
Calm our fears,
So that we may be a calming presence
Let us listen to your still voice,
Amidst the white noise.
Lead us to the unity and diversity of your Godhead,
So that we may celebrate our own unity and diversity.
Draw near,
So that we may draw near to you.
Until the storm passes
We admire and adore you,
We turn to you in prayer and praise,
We are shielded and sheltered in the cleft of your Rock.
For you are our hope,
Our help,
Our honor, and
Our Holy One.
Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e., only God is glorified!)