A somber 4th

Oh Lord
I worry about our nation

I love it
a lot

But sometimes Lord
really...
I mean really

We wrap ourselves in the flag
and we pick up the cross
and we think they go together

We look at you and we think you are "our" God
that we can some how domesticate you
define you
use you

That you are on "our" side
and not for
that person in China
or Africa
or Mexico
or Iran
whom you also created

Lord, your love is outrageous
you love America
you love its warring children
who cannot get along

you love those who protest, and demand
food for the poor, healthcare for the vulnerable
support for the downtrodden
justice for the minorities
Release for caged children

you also (alas) love those
who (in my humble opinion) have lost their way
among the gods of power and wealth
those who think they are serving you
by calling the poor enabled
and by legislating their version of morality
And closing their hearts to immigrants
And embracing violent domination as a solution.

your love is scandalous Lord
we cannot understand it
we cannot grasp its magnitude

even those of us who think we understand, fall
far far short
of understanding
we see people who hate other people
and we hate them (see the problem?)

So I pray Lord
for America
touch us ....
with that weird
risky love
fill us with your Spirit

but Lord
I pray the same
for every person who draws breath
every person
in every place
on this planet
we call earth

SK