Thursday, September 30, 2010

Dear God,

When I learned about the talented, bright young man who committed suicide because two Rutgers University students illicitly broadcast him across campus while he had sex with another student, I felt such sadness. Whatever happened to trust, respect, integrity, honor, and character? Why would these students betray and dishonor him? Why?

What has happened to us? Why in your name do we think that such outrageous acts are okay? When did the line that divides right and good from wrong and bad get moved? Have we lost our minds?

With a boob tube filled with such disdain for humanity and what is sacred, why wouldn't such things happen? Our language is in the gutter. We practice crude behaviors. We mock and laugh at others as if life is just one great big joke. "Anything goes" literally means anything goes and anyone can be the brunt of cruel, vile acts.

It seems we have thrown away fundamental beliefs that every human being is a person of inestimable worth. We have tossed the golden rule and values that sets standards about the way we behave toward one another. Rome fell because of moral decay; are we any better?

As a people
it seems
we have lost
our way,
O Christ.
Not only
have we
thrown away
our values,
we've shoved you
out of
our lives.
God,
who needs him;
who needs
the church,
many say.
A nation,
a world
without God
can expect
chaos, disorder
and languishing morality.
We take ourselves there.
Forgive us,
O Lord;
teach us
a better way.
Bring us
to our knees
until we see
what you see,
love who
you love,
honor who
you honor.
Educate us
to love
our neighbor
and ourselves.
Remind us
that we carry
your DNA
because you
love us.
Point us
to a
new, old path
where we surrender
our weapons
of destruction,
I pray.

Love, Andrea