Hi God, it’s me again. I am so bummed. The whole mess in D.C. and Gaza/Israel is just sapping so much energy from me. I’m a pastor and writer, but I’m not sure even what can be said. The forces of violence and vengeance are so much in control of the world as usual that innocent suffering doesn’t matter. I have to tell you, Lord, the ways of peace seem so puny and weak against drones and bombs dropped on refugee camps. How can those in power be so unmoved by the suffering and death of thousands? Are they so insulated and hardened by years of power madness that the pain doesn’t reach their hearts? It is so terribly sad and discouraging since it has been this way from the beginning of time. It seems so irresponsible on my part to try and live life as usual – but then we have two good friends in nursing homes and their suffering and that of their family and friends on a different level, but still quite real. Combine that with the cold dreary weather and my own health concerns and life sucks big time. Woe is me. I’m turned in on myself and too much focused on the half empty glass. I know that, but what to do about it? I just started my 78th trip around the sun this week and should be smarter by now. Where is the wisdom that is supposed to come with age when I need it? O God, please give me patience and courage for the living of these days. Amen
Tag: helplessness
Fight the Good Fight
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” II Timothy 4:7
Listening to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s daily update on the COVID-19 war yesterday reminded me of one of my all-time go-to quotes from my favorite authors. The passion and effectiveness of the Governor’s plea to every Ohioan to do their part in this battle moved me. I have been very grateful for his leadership and that of Dr. Amy Acton, our Director of Public Health during this whole crisis.
But yesterday I was impressed by the Governor’s rhetorical style. He did what I always urged my preaching class students to do, i.e. use Aristotle’s holistic appeal to reason, emotion and will. The Governor gave us something to think about, something to feel and then a call to action. To paraphrase, he said that every night when he goes to bed he asks himself if he has done everything he could to help lessen the deadly impact of this pandemic, and then he urged every one of us to ask ourselves the same question every night.
Helplessness in the face of this crisis is a common feeling for all of us. We can easily focus too much on all the things we can’t do right now. But the Governor reminded us we are not helpless. There is one vital thing we can all do that will help flatten the now familiar curve and save lives. And that thing is to simply stay home and do absolutely nothing that will endanger ourselves or the lives of others.
So here’s the quote from Nikos Kazantzakis:
“My prayer is not the whimpering of a beggar nor a confession of love. Nor is it the trivial reckoning of a small tradesman: Give me and I shall give you.
My prayer is the report of a soldier to his general: This is what I did today, this is how I fought to save the entire battle in my own sector, these are the obstacles I found, this is how I plan to fight tomorrow.” (“Saviors of God: Spiritual Exercises”)
We will survive this pandemic if we all do our part. How do you plan to fight it today?
Be safe and well.
Sunday, March 22, 2020
Peacefully Harsh 