there are no words

There are No Words

6/02/2020

 

there are times

when there are no words

when nothing can be said

when nothing can be done

 

when one is confronted with things so profoundly

wrong

that one can do nothing but cry silently from the heart

 

When one watches

a President follow his praetorian guard

across a plaza, as the flash grenades explode

and the tear gas flies

and the armored enforcers march, shields in place,

and peaceful protestors are driven from

the sanctuary of a church

 

for a photo op

as a Bible and a church building are used as props

for the gospel of dominance and hate

rather than the Gospel of sacrifice and love

 

there are times

when there are no words

when nothing can be said

when nothing can be done

 

when those forces gleefully inciting violence

and plan for violent revolt in the name of racism

are enabled and encouraged

when those seeking justice are demonized

 

and black blood and white blood

mingle together on the pavement

in silent protest

 

there are times

when there are no words

when nothing can be said

when nothing can be done

 

as people whine about the minor inconvenience of a mask

and claim their pleasures

crowding on to beaches and into pools

 

all while a virus dances

and fragile humans die by the hundreds of thousand

while black, white and brown all struggle to breathe

and die alone

 

there are times

when there are no words

when nothing can be said

when nothing can be done

 

times when the tears do not come from one’s eyes

but from one’s heart

that beating heart

that leaps up from its resting place into one’s throat

almost choking one to death

 

one wants to say too much

one cannot say enough

and yet

one is left without words

 

at least the words that can heal

and bring hope

 

one is left with only angry words

the words of affront and despair

words that pile pain upon the pain, upon the pain

 

there are times

when there are no words

when nothing can be said

when nothing can be done

 

when all we can do is cry from the heart

 

“Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.

From the end of the earth I call to you, when my heart is faint.

 

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I;

for you are my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy” (Psalm 61)

 

when all we can do is cry

“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?

How long will my enemy triumph over me?

 

Look on me and answer, Lord my God.

Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, ‘I have overcome him,’ and my foes will rejoice when I fall.’  (Psalm 13)

 

Sometimes all we have is the cry of our heart

and the faith

 

that if we do not give up

that if we do not weary in doing good (Galatians 6)

and preaching (and living) love

if we trust in God’s love (Psalm 13)

we can overcome evil with good (Romans 12)

 

who but the Lord can protect the poor?

who but the Lord can protect the vulnerable?

who but the Lord can protect the person of color?

 

who but the Lord..

working through you, and me?

 

there are times

when there are no words, but we must speak anyway

when nothing can be done, but we must strive anyway