We Are Quite the Mess

I am pondering our present circumstances under the notion of "we are quite the mess." I am curious as to whether or not you would agree or disagree with that assessment.

But an assessment of what?

Globally, we are challenged by the warming phenomenon, and some of us agree with it and some of us do not. Violence is occurring both here and abroad. We see daily the conflicts in Europe, Africa, and other places, and most distinctly here in the US. We have succeeded over the last two years or so in separating ourselves from the world. The USA that once stood with is now standing outside of the circle of relationships between countries. We have a person in the WH who berates our friends and embraces our enemies. That is enough to give pause right there.

Within our own country, we have an economy that looks to be built upon the flimsy foundation of tax cuts to corporations and now the stock market is in a serious crash influenced as well by the tariff war between the US and China, or rather between the president* and China. Our national debt has risen to unbelievable levels at the same time.

Instability reigns in Washington. I have lost count as to the number of indictments, convictions, and court cases surrounding the president*. Never in the history of the US has this sort of thing occurred. Friday's court filings reveal a toxicity that we have not seen since Watergate, and Watergate was simple compared to the current status of things.

Our country just paid homage to a good and decent though imperfect former president. Many of us watched the memorial services, found ourselves moved by the readings and eulogies and songs, and became enthralled as the train bore his casket open to viewers on both sides through the countryside from Spring to College Station. We argued at why the president* and first lady did not read the Apostles' Creed along with others at the memorial service in DC. Some of my restorationist background people said, well, of course not, and some of my other friends said that it was a moment of truth as they did not read what they did not believe. Still others of my friends accuse people  like me of looking for things to complain about.

Still, there is more. We are in season of advent. The Christ-child is coming. The manger will soon have an inhabitant, the shepherds will soon see the star of Bethlehem, and the wise men will make their way to the small town. Christmas trees are up and decorations abound, and our children and grandchildren look with much curiosity and adventure.

We have a collision of worlds, the one in which we live and the one for which we dream. We live in the world as it is and we dream for a better world for our children, grand children, and great-great-grandchildren.

We teeter on the brink of despair and then we arise on the edge of hopefulness. We live in both spaces and places with one foot in the now and one foot in the what shall be.

My prayer is simple, Lord, please save us from ourselves, and please protect the world into which the Christ child is soon to be born. Prepare our hearts so that we might receive this beautiful child. Please give us the wisdom and the courage to build a future of hopefulness for our beloveds.