Friday 9 July 2010

General Synod

Psalm 13 (Common Worship translation)

How long will you forget me, O Lord; for ever? •
How long will you hide your face from me?

How long shall I have anguish in my soul and grief in my heart, day after day? •
How long shall my enemy triumph over me?

Look upon me and answer, O Lord my God; •
lighten my eyes, lest I sleep in death;

Lest my enemy say, 'I have prevailed against him,' •
and my foes rejoice that I have fallen.

But I put my trust in your steadfast love; •
my heart will rejoice in your salvation.

I will sing to the Lord, •
for he has dealt so bountifully with me.

-----

How long will I feel ashamed of how the church treats women?

How long will I feel ashamed of how the church treats LGBT people?

How long will I fear to speak openly, even here, of those issues of equality and fairness which affect me personally?

I don't know. I can't know. I am sometimes too weary even to think about how long these things might take.

But if the Christian claim of salvation and mercy is true, if the Christian hope of unconditional love is true, it won't be forever.

That is the song I will keep singing.

Here's hoping and fervently praying that General Synod will be full of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Thanks, @philritchie!)

5 comments:

Ernest said...

Song,

thank you for a very affirming post.

I share many of your concerns about the lack of love between Christians.

We seem to spend all of our time arguing while the world goes to hell in a handcart.

God Bless You for this.

Nancy Wallace said...

AMEN!!!

Justin Brett said...

Plenty of us will be trying, so keep us all in your prayers!

it's margaret said...

I will be singing and praying with you.

Song in my Heart said...

Thanks, all, for your comments.

Ernest, I think there is a place for debate and discussion -- but I do get frustrated by how long some of it seems to take.

Justin, of course all at Synod are in my prayers.

Seeker, Margaret: thank you.