I’ll just come out and say it- I’ve found it hard to pray in the past week. The killing of George Floyd and subsequent protests, riots and political stagecraft have left me exhausted. My morning quiet times have swiftly descended into reading the day’s news and exhaustingly trying to keep up with the protests.
All the while, two haunting questions have kept me company:
Should I say anything and use my platform to join in the protest?
Do I fully grasp what’s being protested?
First, the use-platform-to-protest thing. On some levels, my platform is large compared to the average Joe. On other levels, my words resonate little in an internet full of those with a far greater reach. I’ve decided to share resources rather than try to write something clever out of anger, frustration or confusion. If I find something that is charitable, thoughtful and helpful, I’ll share it.
Second, I’ve come to understand just how little I understand about racism in America. For a long time, I was comfortable with a belief that “I’m not racist” and hopefully that’s true. Yet, if all I do is stay there, the potential exists for me to be a bystander. That doesn’t help anyone outside of my own home.
Back to prayer.
My gut has been moved and my typically calm demeanor unsettled in the past week. My prayers have been steady but difficult. Maybe you can relate?
Whether it’s now or six months from now, you may have a time when you find it hard to pray.
So here’s something you can do for when prayer is nearly impossible: write. Rather than spending an inordinate amount of time on Facebook of Twitter or Instagram writing stupid stuff, write something with more depth and more length.
Write a letter to someone with political authority. Write to your police department. Write to your local bishop. Write in your journal in order to relieve some of the sadness and anger you feel. Write on your blog essay that are from your heart.
Write.