This is not just the news…

This is not just the news… It’s a call for a voice…

Almost every day this week there has been a hate crime committed against our Jewish friends in New York. First, my heart aches again for the pain and suffering and loss of these families and communities, heinous crimes committed against them for what they believe, where they come from, who they are.
 
In times like this and others, we need national prayer, statements of solidarity, expressions of outrage, and determined leaders whose statements precede any I might write.
It is not politics to call for leadership to stop weighing responses and be a “Healer in Chief.”
 
It is not disrespectful to expect every faith tradition, institutional religion and denomination to be raising their voices and turning their pulpits and webpages into a call for prayer, compassion love and demanding national leadership to speak out and stand with those mourning and wondering, “Are we next?”
 
Visit your denomination or faith tradition’s website and you may find headings like I did this morning: articulate, safe and absent.
 
Is it a wonder “relevance” is often a topic of government and religion?
 
Today, I pray and ask you to do the same; ask to be led in ways you can help; ask for your voice that comes from your depth of outrage and the God of your understanding. Do what you can…
 
And mourn with those reeling from violence…