God.

At this moment, people we love are looking for jobs. At this moment, people who love you are in fear of losing homes and countries and lives. At this moment, people you love are not convinced you do.

So it’s a little hard when we read that,

“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”

We know you’re good. But this doesn’t feel like compassion. Not in the moment. Not in practical ways.

Because, after all, we know the theological answers.

But when we wake up in the middle of the night aware of all that is unresolved, we’re glad you are slow to anger, but we wish you were quicker to employment. We know you are rich in love, but it feels like the rich are missing opportunities to share the love.

And we’re not sure that you ought to be good to all. We’re doing our best to defend your interests and you may not be interested in that at all.

We confess that we are quick to judge the motives of others.

But even if we were slow to judge, people are still starving. And hurting. And abandoned.

God, be gracious and compassionate toward our sleep and hearts. And let our ways with each other be slow to anger and rich in love.

Amen

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Reflecting on Psalm 145