{"id":1726,"date":"2022-05-31T14:35:16","date_gmt":"2022-05-31T19:35:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/lutherancenter\/?p=1726"},"modified":"2022-06-01T10:31:00","modified_gmt":"2022-06-01T15:31:00","slug":"lamentations-in-the-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/lutherancenter\/2022\/05\/lamentations-in-the-night\/","title":{"rendered":"Lamentations in the Night"},"content":{"rendered":"
Following the horrific shootings at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX on May 24, Church Anew invited blog contributors to wrestle with the continuing epidemic of mass shootings in America. With inspiration from the biblical book of Lamentations, Program Director for Congregational Thriving, Rev. Dr. Char Rachuy Cox, shared her own lamentations and reflections that give name to pain and suffering and also stir us to hope.<\/h5>\n
\"\"
Photo by Jose Alonso<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Like many of you,
\nI found myself unable to sleep last night.
\nMy heart literally ached within my chest.
\nMy thoughts could not be stilled.
\nThe images in my mind\u2019s eye
\nPlayed like an unending,
\nEver-expanding reel –
\nOn repeat.
\nThe news images from Uvalde
\nIntermingled in my memory
\nWith those of Buffalo
\nAnd Parkland
\nAnd George Floyd
\nAnd Mother Emanuel
\nAnd Sandy Hook
\nAnd Breonna Taylor
\nAnd San Bernardino
\nAnd Aurora
\nAnd Ahmaud Arbery
\nAnd on, and on and on \u2026
\nAn idolatrous love of violence
\nThat invades
\nAnd pervades
\nAnd degrades.<\/p>\n

In the deep of the night,
\nI recalled another time of
\nTragedy
\nAnd violence
\nAnd loss \u2013
\nThat time it was poignant and personal \u2013
\nPainful in its particularity –
\nHolding my dearest friend in my arms
\nAs the sobs rose from within her
\nLike bitter incense
\nWhen her son was murdered by police \u2013
\nAnd last night,
\nIn remembering that night –
\nI felt again her sorrow,
\nAnd I wondered who was holding
\nThe parents of murdered children
\nAmid the strangling sobs of this night.<\/p>\n

I found myself hoping \u2013
\nAnd wanting to trust \u2013
\nBut not completely believing that it was so \u2013
\nHoping \u2013
\nThat the Spirit was indeed interceding
\nAnd pleading
\nAmid the bleeding
\nAnd the grieving
\nBut wondering \u2013
\nWondering \u2013
\nIf perhaps,
\nAmid our own collective, cultural obstinance
\nThat the Spirit has taken a sabbatical,
\nTurned God\u2019s back –
\nAnd left us to live with \u2013
\nAnd continue to die with \u2013
\nOur choices,
\nOur idolatry,
\nAnd our inaction.<\/p>\n

But then,
\nI believe \u2013
\n(statement of faith) \u2013
\nThat the Spirit whose presence \u2013
\nAnd providence \u2013
\nI was questioning,
\nPrompted me to turn
\nTo the only place within our Sacred text
\nThat my heart \u2013
\nIn the deepness of the night,
\nIn the depth of despair \u2013
\nWas open to both
\nVoicing and hearing,
\nUttering and understanding \u2013
\nLamentations.<\/p>\n

While I know that these words
\nFirst arose from a past-tense-time
\nAnd amid a past-tense
\nProfound circumstance
\nAnd need \u2013
\nThey both spoke to <\/em>me
\nAnd for<\/em> me \u2013
\nAmid this present-tense sorrow.<\/p>\n

\n
How lonely sits the city\u2026
\nShe weeps bitterly in the night,
\nwith tears on her cheeks\u2026.
\nWhen her people fell into the hand of the foe,
\nand there was no one to help her,
\nthe foe looked on mocking
\nover her downfall\u2026.
\nO Lord, look at my affliction,
\nfor the enemy has triumphed\u2026.
\nIs it nothing to you, all you who pass by?
\nMy children are desolate,
\nfor the enemy has prevailed.<\/em><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n

On and on I read,
\nAnd as I read,
\nMy tears
\nAnd my anger
\nAnd my sorrow
\nAnd my helplessness
\nMingled with the generations
\nUpon generations
\nOf voices
\nthat rise in lamentation
\nand supplication
\namid that which is beyond
\ncomprehension,
\nbeyond control,
\nbeyond consolation.<\/p>\n

And as I found
\nNot necessarily comfort \u2013
\nBut shadows on the edges of solidarity \u2013
\nIn the echoes of these ancient words,
\nI came once again
\nAnd anew
\nUpon an assurance that
\nHas sustained me at other times
\nOf confusion,
\nSorrow,
\nGrief
\nAnd disbelief:<\/p>\n

\n
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
\nGod\u2019s mercies never come to an end;
\nThey are new every morning;
\ngreat is your faithfulness\u2026.
\nTherefore I will hope.<\/em><\/h5>\n<\/blockquote>\n

God is faithful;
\nTherefore, I will hope.
\nI.
\nWill.
\nHope.<\/em><\/p>\n

I will hope in the comfort of God
\nFor all who grieve.<\/p>\n

I will hope in the strength of God
\nFor all who suffer.<\/p>\n

I will hope in the restoring power of God
\nFor all who are despairing.<\/p>\n

And I will hope for the people of God
\nTo take up space on this earth
\nThat does not destroy,
\nBut that gives life.<\/p>\n

I will hope that the fire of the Spirit
\nWill fall again from heaven \u2013
\nFill us,
\nMove us to repentance,
\nStir us from our complacency,
\nBlow through us
\nOn the rush of a mighty wind \u2013
\nAnd provoke us to act.<\/p>\n

I will hope that prayers will rise up
\nIn an embodied defiance
\nOf words-become-deeds
\nThat value life more than weapons of war.<\/p>\n

I will hope that God \u2013
\nThe Author and Giver of Life \u2013
\nWill compel in us
\nA will
\nAnd a resolve
\nTo cast out
\nFaux outrage
\nAnd cast off
\nFear \u2013<\/p>\n

So that
\n<\/em>Hope becomes more than wish.
\nPeace becomes more than a possibility.
\nAnd life abundant edges out
\nA resignation that
\nThe way things are
\nIs the way things have to be.<\/p>\n

Because we do
\nTrust and believe
\n(statement of faith)
\nThat Jesus does make all things new.
\nGod is faithful;
\nTherefore,
\nI will hope.
\nI.
\nWill.
\nHope.<\/p>\n

Used with permission. Originally posted on\u00a0Church Anew<\/a>, a ministry of St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Eden Prairie, MN.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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