O Lord, this week’s news is like ash in my mouth.
O my God, say it isn’t so!
But it is.
1,500 then.
545 now.
The truth is we are
dividers.
So in the posture of Daniel,
I sink low to pray, petition, and confess.
O Lord, to you belongs righteousness,
but to us open shame
because of our divisive acts.
O Lord, you are compassionate and loving;
but we, our nation, our leaders, our princes,
are guilty of scattering harm.
Mother
Child
Father
Daughter
Bro thers
Sis ters
Grandmother
Boy
Papa
Girl
Separated
Stranded
For how long, O Lord, for how long?
Shut off
Segregated
O Lord, have mercy!
Not because we are righteous,
but because you are a just and grace-filled redeemer.
What we have torn apart,
mend together.
What we have disjoined,
reunite.
What heartbreak and loss we have caused,
replace with abundant joy and celebration.
O Lord, listen!
Yahweh, forgive.
Almighty, hear and act.
For your sake, O my God, do not delay!
There is so much more to the confessions of Daniel 9, but this short lament is all my heavy, grieved heart can articulate today.
