How long, O LORD? will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? - Psalm 13:1
The Psalms offer words to pray, especially when we cannot articulate our feelings on our own. These prayers are useful both in great anguish and in great joy. I have turned to the Psalms this week as we hear of more school violence and the tragic loss of lives. I know that I am not alone in my distress from a continued cycle of inaction. Even as I lament the situation, I recognize my conviction that action has to be paired with prayer. Part of the struggle for me is identifying meaningful action to take. This prayerful act of discernment is an important step in the process. We must not linger here. As we move into the public sphere, there are definitive opinions about gun control and other contributing factors, including mental illness. For me, the word “and” is crucial to this conversation. We need better enforcement of current regulations and additional restrictions and to address the mental health needs of our nation. We need to have conversations about solutions with others. We need to have conversations with those who hold opinions that differ from ours. Some of the differences may be considerable; others, more nuanced. Without these conversations, we will perish in a cycle of inaction. Perhaps the most immediate prayer we need in order to meet this crisis is for ourselves, that the spirit of God may embolden us to have these challenging conversations and guide us within them.
Blessings,
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