I realize every picture, every image, every video has a context. At the same time, some pictures take on meaning which transcends the literalness of the circumstance. The image of Ieshia L. Evans standing peacefully in the face of heavily armed police officers portrays the kind of upside-down (or right-side up?) reality of God's Kingdom I can only pray might characterize our collective witness as Jesus followers.
After the 11:15 a.m. worship service yesterday, a church member
slipped a piece of paper into my hand. It contained a single phrase from the
hymn we had sung earlier that morning: "Cure thy children's warring
madness." As the images and stories continue in the wake of last week's
violence, the entire third verse from "God of Grace and God of Glory"
seems an apt prayer for us.
Cure Thy children's warring madness,
Bend our pride to Thy control.
Shame our wanton selfish gladness,
Rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom's goal,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom's goal.
