A Season of Lament

Like many of you, I watched the most recent debacle play out in the Oval Office.  It was an ambush of a true and courageous ally under siege by a murderous war criminal.  As more and more in that room piled on President Zelinsky I was nauseated.

Stalin had it right when he referred to such Americans as “useful idiots.”  Our president repeated time and again Kremlin talking points.  One lie heaped upon another.  This Orange Felon must surely be leading the competition with Satan for the designation, “Father of all Lies”.  And J.D. Vance would be a close runner-up.  Disgusting.

We as a nation, taking the side of a murderous dictator, have much to lament.  Many expressed their shame in their nation – an embarrassment to be an American.

It’s not just our allies that are we disparaging, but the least of us.  As of this week orders have come down from the House of Representatives to cut billions from Medicare, Medicaid, nutrition programs for mothers and infants.  Cuts to school lunch programs.  The entire Department of Education fed to the wood chipper along with NOAA, the agency that warns of hurricanes, floods and tornados.  Oh, did I mention FEMA, the agency that cleans up the mess after a national disaster.  That too, sliced to ribbons.

Now you might not have much sympathy for a government worker if your own job history was tenuous, but these are real people with real families.  The helpful response from GOP toadies?  Our “thoughts and prayers.”  And directions to LinkedIn and the unemployment office.

We have much to lament as we watch the social fabric of our nation, of a world order bound by rule, all ripped to shreds by the most unabashed narcissist ever to occupy the White House.

We have our own inaction to lament.  The question that haunts me is, “What did you do when you witnessed the destruction and pillage of our republic?”  We each have our own personal failures and shortcomings to lament – those things done and left undone.

A prayer from the Psalms brings consolation.  “Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me.”

Today as we receive ashes, the reminder of our frailty and mortality, let us pray for a right spirit.  Let us pray for wisdom and courage to do the little we can do.

As our team that sponsors Agenda for a Prophetic Faith gathered this past Tuesday, the agenda was short and to the point:

What is our national crisis saying to me as an individual?

What is it saying to the Church?

What is it saying to our nation and to us as citizens?

Indeed, what is this season of Lent saying to each of us deep down at soul-depth?  O Lord, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me.  And give us umption for our gumption – Lord, we pray.  Amen

March 4, 2025
Ash Wednesday


Joel 2:1-2, 12-17; Psalm 103:8-14;
2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21