A 4 AM MEDITATION

We’ve never been able to have our cake and eat it too. . .

Home from Kazakhstan summer of 2015 - trip to Cicago.

We can’t promote violence and anarchy, narcissism and self-determinism and expect to have a society that truly cares about community or even genuinely cares for one another. We can’t promote division and power grabs (of any kind!) and expect any semblance of unity or solidarity.

It’s a farce to listen to the rhetoric – to watch the blatant hypocrisy day after day and expect our young people to grow up to be “well adjusted” and caring citizens. It’s not a farce; it’s a tragedy that’s killing individuals and the collective soul of society.

Do we need a change in policies? Absolutely! We need to reverse the outrageous policies and decisions that make life far more unstable, confusing, and frankly, just plain dangerous for our kids.

We need adults to act like grown-ups. Is there any other country in the world where adults can act like spoiled rotten brats and be celebrated? The decadence to luxuriate in our “you do you, Boo” culture is not only disgusting, it’s lethal. And these same “adults” become the “experts” for our kids. And then, later we are stunned at the tragedy our foolish policies perpetuate.

It’s disgusting. In fact, the overwhelm has made me physically ill many times as tears roll off my face and the only sound I can make when I pray are inarticulate groans.

Our kids are paying the price for our decadence. For the luxurious life we are too spoiled to even know we have. Only the truly rich have the privilege of living the life we live, making decisions from an intellectual, out-of-touch-with-the-rest-of-humanity place.

Our powerful, elite leaders and experts will always make decisions and set policies that promote themselves and their agendas.

Prayer is the only thing that truly changes anything. God has always promised that when we pray and ask for wisdom, He will give it. Are we willing to ask Him for wisdom? Or do we prefer to trust ourselves and our own wisdom? The wisest man that ever lived said: “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.” When we have all we think we need, there’s no need to fear God and it doesn’t even dawn on us to ask Him for wisdom.

Another gut-wrenching, heart-shattering tragedy reminds me how I need to engage daily in the hard work of prayer. On my knees, at the kitchen sink, in the car, on my bed. Without ceasing. And I need to engage with my family and in my neighborhood and community to put other’s needs above my own. I choose to reject the “you do you, Boo” mentality and embrace an everyday strategy of I see you and want to know you, no matter how busy, no matter how much I want to do what I prefer.

Talk is cheap. Actions have always been louder than words. Policies change things and not always for the better. I have the power to do what’s right. I will do all I can in my family, my neighborhood, my community.