Last night after the kids were in bed and my wife and I sat down for our routine of rest and reflection on the day, I replayed the COVID memorial I knew occurred earlier in the day. I sat and watched as the incoming leader of America joined with but a few others to mourn and remember. As I watched there were waves of grief and joy.
Joy was felt for the relief of knowing the leader of our Babylon knows grief and how to share it and partake in it. Part of the problem in the white evangelical church right now is the inability to lament, individually and corporately. The sheer magnitude of death is ignored. This is convenient when the narrative allows the community to continue life as normal; to continue churning out widgets to make more money for the consumer economy. I pray this spirit of knowing when to grieve and feel and remember remains in the halls of power.
Grief was felt for all that we’ve lost. Every light around the pool at the National Mall represented 1,000 lives. It was a powerful visual representation of what one year of selfishness and greed can do to the “exceptional” America.
I was also struck by the spirituality of the event. Not surprised, as I’ve known all along that Biden is Catholic, but struck at the realization that most white evangelicals think that today their faith will be under attack by the new leadership. It’s clearly not, and yet that will be the sentiment for the entire time he is in power.
More lament. More remembrance. More grief. More repentance. More truth. More love.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” – Jesus
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