It has been just over a month since the murder of my sister at the hands of her son. I have an inner critic that is saying I don't need to keep referencing this loss yet I cannot imagine this not having an affect. It's not always the focus but lingers like a deep splinter that if you dig too much goes deeper yet somehow over time works itself out leaving a wound. This is reality, I cannot 'move along' nor will I cheat whatever it is this time is teaching me. Being fake isn't a writer's friend. I am slowly catching a glimpse of the Good News and am remembering we are a people of hope!
2020 has been so uniquely hard across the board for virtually everyone. Although we don't really need a big reminder here's a few considerations: COVID-19 with all the death and suffering it brings. a type of social death in a way of all of our mini-societies cannot even meet safely, racial issues as there is the normal yelling on the 'sides' and not nearly enough listening, political upheaval as the president says 'jokes' like 12 more years, sports our most popular diversion are all but gone and for high school athletes stifling many a scholarship, widespread conspiracy acceptance, murder in the streets and homes, children in cages from governments and trafficking, an oppressive pornographic culture that is disguised as 'rights' but thrives on toxic masculinity and dominance, the questioning if our culture has any foundations or anything positive, the reckoning that greed is not good, abuse of children in every organization taint things once trusted, a high and lifted up seat of judgment towards every previous generation,riots and police brutality, mental health and loneliness, loved ones moving on, unemployment and poverty, opioid dependence didn't leave, suicide, addictions, gun violence, war pigs and the endless social media fights as if our dignity were dependent upon our opinions. Our egos are marching on.
Whew! That is a exhausting and not even exhaustive when considering our difficulties today. I read all the Left Behind series, they are page turners. I disagree with rapture theology now but isn't it just a bit attractive? The idea that we can float off and be with Jesus while all is made right in the world. This will come to us all when our bodies cannot hold us anymore, when death comes. Looking for this rapture feels so defeated. As if God has completely given up on the world he created. giving evil a more powerful voice than God?
What if the ultimate 'end of the world' is still in the distant future and our generation is guilty of delusions of grandeur? What then?
Would Jesus instruct us to pray for something God doesn't want to grant? The Lord's Prayer asks us to pray "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Are we just praying for the end of time? How is this Good News? I think the darkness in the world loves to masquerade as if all the battles are won and there is no reason to hope. No reason to hope in God. Is it possible the Good News has zero to do with co-creating this Kingdom now? I'm afraid many an unbeliever sees our faith as uniquely selfish when there is little to no desire to make the world a better place for the next generation. Are they wrong? Is it unfaithful to have hope? Are we so arrogant to think we have insider knowledge and can easily interpret apocalyptic scriptures. Remember those who crucified Jesus knew the scriptures very well.
I know it can be hard to find that hope these days. It is not a common narrative! God is not subject to our narratives. As my family has been sorting through our pain the Kingdom of God has been very present in the outpouring of love from friends and even strangers. The most authentic evidence for God and their Kingdom is love. This love is so very present when we are open to seeing what God is up to . As Jesus said "Seek and you will find". Look at for these reminders: how many people are concerned for you, friends and family, communities loving in new creative ways, babies are being born, new cures and vaccines for many a disease, medicine is more widespread than ever, awareness of societal inconsistencies with race and a determination to make it right, children's hearts turning towards their parents, sunrise, sunsets, birds singing, nature, a shoulder when needed, teachers sacrificing, first responders sacrificing, peaceful protest for needed change, the awareness that evil is evil even if we have trouble with the language we see it and oppose it, racism and sexism seen for those evils they are, oceans and beaches, mountains, long lives well lived, short lives well lived, lives changed with counselors, lives changed in community, tears when beauty hits, our pets, single parents holding it together, LGBTQ granted more and more of their proper dignity, spirituality and religion getting back to the roots and exposing political hypocrisy, prison visitors, hospice workers, chaplains and all clergy that care, newly weds and the 50 year plus anniversaries. Good News is all around.
We can choose to see life or death but it is not that simple. Death still holds sway in the midst of life; it's defeat hasn't been seen in 2000 years, we want to see it again! Love always carries suffering within, it is worth it. I don't pretend to have a good understand of just how this Good News works out perfectly but we are called to be workers in the harvest. It is a dangerous thing to the faith to pretend as if darkness is on the same level with the Light. We have authority as believers; the authority to love and submit to those in need. The authority to proclaim the good that comes from God ultimately. The authority to proclaim that God knows pain and suffering. The authority to announce the offense that everyone is included in this love whether it is acknowledge, understood or ignored.
We don't believe because it 'makes sense', we believe because the power of God poured out through love softens our hard hearts to recognize we are not alone and we are precious and so is everyone else! We are a people who DO look forward to God making all things right! This isn't a fearful thing. This is Good News! This is hope! We get to work towards it now!
"See, now is the day of salvation" 2 Cor 6:2b
"Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done On Earth As It Is In Heaven"
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