disposables // #4

More disposables. Yey, yei, yay!!!

a lenten prayer of repentance.

The other day I had the honor of sharing a prayer at our school's lenten chapel service on the sins that the church has committed against african americans and people of color.

I felt so privileged to speak but also so scared because it's not often that I speak up in this way, let alone around a topic so hard as the racial injustice that exists in our society and country because it's a topic that as a person of color, I feel is so personal and goes so much deeper than a prayer could ever say.

Yet, I'm sharing this because the other day Intercessors 4 Justice asked if they could share it, so perhaps someone else needs to hear it too. This is not all encompassing and was inspired by Habakkuk 1 and Psalm 13:

How long, Lord, must I call for help but you do not listen?

Or cry out to you, Violence! But you do not save?

Why do you make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?

How long must we wait, Lord?
When will justice come?
Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”

Destruction and violence are before me; Lord.
There is strife and conflict abounds.

Therefore the law is paralyzed and justice never prevails.

How long, Lord?

How long must we wait before the social and economic conditions that adhere to color in our country are no more?

How many more of our black and brown brothers and sisters need to be arrested, pulled over, incarcerated, killed with little to no explanation as to why.

Placated by nothing but “sir, mam, please calm down”

Lord, how long?

Lord how long must some live in fear and mistrust of the very individuals whose duty it was to protect.

Lord, how long?

Lord, how long before the church joins in saying, no more instead of aiming towards preserving its own right to life.

To say this American dream, this life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is not good enough for us if it does not include all who are made in your image.

Lord, how long?

How long?

Holy God, we come to you today pleading that you would give us a hunger for justice. God, you who know all and see all, help us to see the error of our ways and rescue us from the temptation to see one another as enemies. Lord, plant in us instead the ability to see one another as individuals made in your image and to hear one another’s stories for the real experiences that they are. Jesus, forgive us for the systems we have created that elevate some and lower others and give us courage to speak honestly about our own prejudice and the ways in which we have participated in perpetuating them. God comfort those of us who are frustrated, help us to avoid bitterness and indifference and give us a righteous anger that leads to action and reconciliation.

Lord, in your mercy, forgive us.