Prayer.

I had written and reflected on a prayer the other night that I emailed my Lindsey. She said I should post it. So, as per her request, here it is:

I was reading through random psalms and found a verse that really struck me. I made it my prayer.

^7:9 O righteous God,
who searches minds and hearts,
bring to an end the violence of the wicked
and make the righteous secure.

I was reminded of

Violence is a deep-seeded disease in our culture. It has nearly an endless number of shapes and avenues through which it attacks us. It pits us against each other and highlights differences as bad instead of pointing out similarities to unify. We're taught that it's only something that happens to "poor" and "bad" people and that it's not our place to care about it, and even if we wanted to, it's impossible to change. This is violent in itself. It's passive violence. I remember Shawn (my Mission Year city director) talking about how "non-political churches" are supporters of the status-quo by their inactivity. They are violent. Lord have mercy on us and on them.

We both know what Jesus says in the beatitudes (Matthew 5):
⁷Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
⁸Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
⁹Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.

I want to live those things out. I want to show mercy to others. I want to know what it is to be merciful to the violent. I want to make peace. I want to know how to identify violence and injustice constructively. That's my prayer.

Jesus help me. I want to be a light in this world of violence, hatred, and mess.

We opened the pm last night with a song that says "strangers and pilgrims with no earthly city. we find in you everything we ever could call home."

Jesus, be my home.

Amen.