Waking Up to Violence

We get used to the violence don't we?

Maybe it's compassion fatigue

Maybe it's the weariness of feeling helpless in the face of it all

The genocide in Gaza continues

Ukraine is still under attack

ICE is still invading communities

Those atrocities have become part of our daily lives

God help us as it all becomes background noise

But then

Gunfire erupts on a beach during a holy celebration

More gunfire on a college campus--again.

A beloved storyteller is stabbed in his home.

And we cannot ignore that

As much as we like to say that it doesn't

Hate does indeed have a home here

May we not let that hate settle in our own hearts

May we get the rest we need to battle the fatigue and the helplessness

As we prepare to, once again,

Welcome the light of the world into our midst

The light that darkness could not and will never overcome

May that light shine through us

in protest

in advocacy

in radical love of our neighbor

in giving of ourselves and our resources

in defiance of all who claim that all is lost

May we go out with joy

and be led forth in peace

and hope and love this Advent season.

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