On this special day of the Advent season, I am pondering “living in between.” We are living within several “in betweens.” We live in between creation and the ultimate redemption. We are living in between now and the coming of the Christ child. We are living in between normalcy and the return to normalcy, if there is to be such a thing. We are living in between what we recall about the politics of our land from years gone by, yearning for a return to civility amongst us all.
Some of God’s children live with a strong eye toward the end times. Some even say that the madness of the world includes multiple signs that we are living in the end times. If we read the book of 2 Peter, then perhaps we can realize that we have always lived in the end times. The living part just gets stretched out.
If indeed we are living in between, especially in between now and the coming of the Christ child, how would the Holy One of Israel have us live? Live and do what? Live and think what? Live and reflect upon what? Live and dream of what?
Living in between for me means making some noise about mistreatment of Black farmers across our land. Toward that end, we write, make calls, and advocate in a wide range of ways. Advocacy toward congressionals is one. For instance, two bills are making their way through the Senate and the House. The Justice for Black Farmers Act of 2023 has once again been submitted by Senators Cory Booker and Raphael Warnock. Some people hold these men in derision, but tor me and my house, we honor and respect them because they have their hearts in the right place. That place is recovery of the Black farmer from decades after decades of discrimination, heart break, and land loss. Another bill has been written that will provide accountability with the confines of the sacred halls of the USDA. Representative Jackson from Illinois understands the challenges of farming while Black in America against all odds. That bill entitled, "Just USDA Standards and Transparency Act of 2023" holds much promise.
So, this morning in the spirit of Advent, and in the reality of living in between now and when the Christ child is born, and in that in between space of when the Bill will be signed into law, I offer this prayer. For those of us who do pray, please feel free to join me.
Lord, lead me to see people who will vote for or against these bills, those who are concerned about history of discrimination and those for whom it is a non-entity.
Lord, lead us to understand the depth of the pain of those families who struggled and lost their farms, and those who are living in fear that even now, they just might lose their farms.
Lord, lead me to a greater sensitivity of what it means to be Black in America.
Lord, lead us to a great sensitivity of what it means to be a Black farmer in America.
Lord, lead me to see the log in my own eye before I point out the speck of racism in the eye of another.
Lord, lead us to be instruments of peace in a polarized world and to reach across whatever isles are created.
Lord, lead me to see the humanity and goodness in people with whom I have many philosophical and theological differences.
Lord, lead us to speak with courage in these perilous days, and to back up that speech with action.
Lord, bring forth hope upon our land that we may live and celebrate as a united people.
Lord, bring forth honesty and faith and resilience to all people so that we can live in harmony with one another.
Lord, prompt all of us to see the coming of the Christ child as a pivotal moment to grab hold of hope.
Lord, prompt the season of the year to bring about all manner of acts of kindness and generosity upon all of us.
Lord, prompt us to respect all of your children, every color, dark or light, because we are all precious in your sight.
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