Tired of Broken Systems
At our Bible Study yesterday,
Rev. Mary Grace Reynolds
shared a prayer she found on
the internet somewhere.
It was inspired by Jeremiah 2:13
“They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”
The prayer was part of
our Lenten Study last Easter.
It meant a lot to me then…
but is even more meaningful today.
Today I am reaching for answers
to the endless wars
and the destructive climate change
and the hurricanes that are so terrible.
Reaching for answers…
But they escape me
like birds that take flight…
just out of reach!
for when you’re tired of broken systems
Oh God, I am done with broken systems
that break the very people
they are meant to serve.
Harness this anger!
Channel it into worthy action and show me
what is mine to fix and what boundaries to patrol
to keep goodness in and evil out.
Blessed are we who are appalled
that brute ignorance can so easily dominate
over decency, honesty, and integrity.
Blessed are we, who chose not to look away
from systems that dehumanize, deceive, defame, and distort.
We who recognize that thoughts and prayers are not enough.
We who stand with Truth over expediency,
principles over politics,
community over competition.
Oh God, how blessed are we who cry out to you:
Empower us to see and name what is broken,
what is ours to restore.
Guide us to find coherent
and beautiful alternatives
that foster life, hope, and peace.
Help us to use our gifts with one another in unity.
Blessed are we who choose to live in anticipation,
our eyes scanning the horizon
for signs of Your kingdom –
heaven come down –
as we wait.
Heaven come down!
Amen
Love,
JanBeek
