God of Grace and God of Glory ~ take one

As you listen to this hymn here are the first two verses to either read ~ or sing out loud

1 God of grace and God of glory,
on your people pour your power;
crown your ancient church's story,
bring its bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the facing of this hour,
for the facing of this hour.

2 Lo! the hosts of evil round us
scorn the Christ, assail his ways!
From the fears that long have bound us
free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the living of these days,
for the living of these days.

It has been over a week since the tragic shooting in Parkland, Florida.  In moments when the question, "why" sit so heavy and hangs/hovers unanswerable in the air.  When our collective hearts break.  When emotions stew within us and we feel at once both anger at yet another shooting, sadness for the families grieving, fear for our own children ~ grandchildren.  When we wonder why it is never the right time to talk about what people's access to guns are doing to our culture, because our attention spans will soon be on to the next story. 

It is in these moments I turn and tune my heart to this hymn.  I do this because these words are a prayer for me.  That God's grace, wisdom, courage would be poured out ~ saturate and soak my life.  When I sing these words I often find the words, "From the fears that long have bound us" get caught in my throat.  Fears we have of each other.  Fears about our own self-worth and wisdom.  Fears that the world drunk with power and privilege might never find a way to sober up to the reality around us.

Fear has been, if not in the driver seat - at least in the passenger seat (as Liz Gilbert says) picking the radio station we listen to, ever since 9/11.  Fear for seventeen years has driven debate and discussions and put a wedge in the ways we talk to each other.  Fear has forced us to divide the world into us and them.  It isn't as if this new...we are repeating the history we perhaps did not learn well from movements for equal rights in the past.  It is far easier to say, "They are the problem." and keep your opinion...then to say, "They might have a point." and might need to change.

That is why we need wisdom and courage every hour and for the living of these days.  May we find more than a trace of grace of God to so.

Blessings and peace ~~