I know I have observed before that while political
disagreements among Christians are not new, they seem to me to have become considerably
deeper and more acrimonious in the last decade or so, especially in the last
four years.
In my Psalm prayers this morning, Psalm 55:12-14 seemed to
me to be words that people on both sides of these political divides might claim
for themselves. They do express both the incredulity and distress that I feel
reflecting on the widely divergent paths taken by so many with whom I have been
close and whose lives have shaped and informed my journey.
It is not enemies who taunt me— I could bear that; it is not
adversaries who deal insolently with me— I could hide from them. But it is you,
my equal, my companion, my familiar friend, with whom I kept pleasant company;
we walked in the house of God with the throng.
I must confess my prayer this morning was more about
expressing my grief to God than about “solving this problem.” I know better to
ask God to change others’ minds to match me or to ask God to suspend my
convictions or to obscure the obvious reality. My prayer was more relinquishing
my angst about this to God, trusting that God can handle the struggle I cannot
handle. I found considerable comfort in verse 22 (which is echoed in 1 Peter
5:7). “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you.” In context the
Psalmist (attr. David) feels abandoned by his friends and companions but
recognized that God would not abandon him. So in my prayer this morning, I
affirmed to God that I was confident God would not abandon the community of
faith, nor me personally, in this time of trial (even as I pray we would be
delivered from it – Matthew 6:13 NRSV).
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