Violence and intimidation by white supremacist hate groups dominated our thinking and deepened our sorrows this weekend. In the scripture readings yesterday we were reminded of Jesus walking across the water to the nearly swamped disciples. Peter asks for this ghostly figure to prove he is Jesus by telling him, “Lord if it is you, command me to come to you on the water,” and Jesus said, “Come.” Notable here is that Peter knows it is Jesus because he was willing to ask him to do something that seemed impossible. And even more notable: he succeeds! Peter stands on the billowing waves, high and dry. For while. Then his fear got the better of him and he starts to sink. In a world more than half-immersed in fear, we are called out our boats to walk on troubled waters. Don’t let your fear swallow you! It may feel impossible to address the hate and violence, but fear is a liar. Here is the prayer offered by Susie Ritchie yesterday in service. Here is our prayer for all the world.
Without your help, our fears will sink us. Without your compassion, our hearts of stone will crack the world we love. Without your reminder that some are not “better than”, “more deserving than,” we will slip beneath the waves of fear and hate. Lord save us by helping us save ourselves. You have given us all we need: to endure hardship, to resist evil, to soften hearts, to love enemies, to release privilege, to act and sacrifice for the love you intend for all people. Call us out of the boats, Lord, onto the waves. Calm the winds of the world but stir up that mighty tempest in our hearts to believe, to care, to act like children of a living God. ~Rev. Kent Gilbert
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