Word Art Meditation

I saw a picture posted on Facebook last night of some students at my alma mater (a small Christian college) joining the protest movement and holding signs that say, among other things, that #BlackLivesMatter.   My first response was surprise!  I didn’t expect to see that sort of support and solidarity from the predominantly White college.  But I also know that my own exploration of race began on that campus so maybe I shouldn’t be so surprised.  Either way, I was pleased and proud to see it.

But then I read the comments.

Let’s just say that I should have clicked “LIKE” and left it at that.

I’m sitting now on the couch in the dark by our Christmas tree thinking about Pakistan and the deflating words on that comment thread.  This has felt to me a particularly painful Advent season.  It’s hard to feel merry and bright and I’m wrestling with the hope of heaven that I wrote about last month.   Some days, some hours are so desperately dark.

I worked on this word art mediation a few weeks ago after the Ferguson Grand Jury Decision and I returned to it again this morning.   I’ve been listening to “I Need Thee Every Hour” over and over again this Fall.  It’s technically not a Christmas song but this line speaks of Advent waiting.  Come quickly, Lord.  Come quickly.

This is the version I like best right now.