I have been podcasting a lot about how tears help me notice stuff I may have otherwise skipped over. My personal challenge to tap into tears has taken me to some interesting places. In this blog post I’m tapping into some recent tears that poured down my face while I read stories online.
Out of the Closet
This is also a coming-out-of-the-closet post too. Rarely do I publicly mention anything about politics or world events; however, recent tears, prayers, and hashtags for peace have moved me to confess I’m a closet political-junkie. I’m not glued to the nightly news, or to Twitter, as much as I used to be; nonetheless, I get just as passionate as ever when I perceive injustices towards ordinary people anywhere in the world.
Twitter is as volatile as politics is. There’s ugly stuff and beautiful stuff posted on it. What I do love about Twitter is the chance to literally listen in on current events as they unfold. With the aid of hashtags, ordinary people, brave journalists, and heroic demonstrators alert us to see what’s happening in faraway places.
Beauty (My One-Word for 2020)
Bold and beautiful was an old, Iranian woman who cried out in front of armed soldiers—she risked all to beg for a better world for her offspring.
This made me cry.
I cried as I watched demonstrators voice their desire for change—for freedom. While Western governments pretty much allow freedom of speech, there are other places where people are killed for speaking against policies the populace abhors.
I cried because people are scared, people are suffering, and people are persecuted for raising their voices.
And Then I Prayed
And then I prayed. I prayed for peace. For freedom. And for the Lord’s intervention to protect people from ungodly rulers.
Tears, prayers, and hashtags for peace remind us in the West of how much we have to be grateful for. The need others have for freedom must be echoed in our prayers, because many don’t have a safe space to crave, cry, and call out from.
Good Neighbors are Peacekeepers
We must pray for our neighbors—whomever they happen to be. And it just so happens the whole planet is our neighborhood now. The recent death of fellow Canadians, and other world citizens, whose plane was reportedly “accidentally” shot down by Iran is evidence of how closely linked our lives have become. I don’t know the details behind the attack, but I do know we all need to start living like we’re peacekeepers of our sisters and brothers.
Wisdom Wins
Blessings as we pray for those who mourn, pray for those who cry out for justice, and pray for those who are desperate for freedom. And bonus blessings as we pray for world leaders to lead wisely. Because as it says in Ecclesiastes 9:18 NIV:
Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
And now I’d like to close with a poem.
Pray for the people
Who aren’t sheltered by love
Pray they receive justice
And power to rise above
Pray for the people
Who simply wish to live
At peace with their neighbors
So hope prevails within.
~ wlm
I’m nosy-to-know what current event has caused you to pause and pray?
Blessings of God’s wisdom ~ Wendy Mac
Beautiful words, Wendy. Thank you.
Thank you, Jeff. Praise God His beauty–His love–can’t ever be demolished.
Oh Wendy, your words are a soothing balm and a beautiful exhortation to prayer. I also have been moved much by the recently news. I don’t want to take my freedom for granted … especially the freedom to speak up and pray for those who don’t have it. Thank you, friend
Thank you, dear Heidi. Yes, the news also reminds us how blessed we are to believe the Good News. May many more souls be saved in the difficult places on this planet.
Beautiful words! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, dear Collene. What a beautiful Savior we serve.
We have so many blessings that we take for granted, often until something tragic happens that reveals the depth of hurt that so many others live in. May we take up our responsibility to pray for those who are struggling! Thank you for this precious reminder, dear Wendy.
Thank you, dear Bettie. Yes, witnessing “the depth of hurt” is a powerful motivator to pray. As a mother of sons, my heart was deeply moved as I read through some of the tweets an Iranian journalist shared yesterday concerning a grieving mother. May God comfort and save those dear people.
Oh, my friend! I share in your tears for others and join my prayers with yours! Thank you for your beautiful words! ❤ Blessings to you!
Thank you, dear Marisa. Love’s reflection is loveliest in tears.
Thank you, dear Tina, for the trackback. The following quote you shared blessed me: “Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference” – Elie Wiesel.
Excellent quote! Just curious – who is Elie Wiesel?
Thanks for asking, as I wasn’t sure either. It turns out he is an amazing writer. Here’s the link I found: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elie_Wiesel
Thank you for sharing your beautiful heart through your words here, Wendy. Oh that we all have heart that are tender toward our neighbors around the world.
Thank you, dear Jeanne. I’ve noticed writers and photographers tend to have tender hearts towards the vulnerable. <3 You and I are blessed to be able to help others notice and understand those who need prayer.
I remember the first Gulf War, when my children were little. It was flu season, and a couple of times we didn’t get to church, because one was sick and my husband was out of town. On those occasions we would sit on the couch together with the newspaper. There was always a story about the most recent soldiers who had been captured, with their pictures. My children and I read the stories and prayed for each soldier by name. I cut out the pictures and stuck them in my Bible for reminders to pray. Later, when those soldiers were released and home, we rejoiced together. I was so grateful for the opportunity to introduce my little ones to the power of their prayers.
Dear Ann, you’ve brought back a memory of a picture of 3 soldiers I saw posted in a paper. Yes, I put it in my journal and prayed for them. It broke my heart as I wondered how much they had suffered. It’s amazing to think of how many people prayed for them because of the newspaper articles. <3
We cry tears of cleansing sometimes. ~ Your expressions of faith, including your images through photography, inspire growth in connection with our loving Lord God. Much grateful respect, Wendy. ~ We pray for others, yes, and to mentally thrive we surrender to Him and find peace; let go and let God be the great I Am. My word of this year 2020 is peace.
Thank you, dear Jane. Amen to surrendering all to God. I can’t count the number of times The Serenity Prayer has saved my day. He is good to help us not be overwhelmed. Blessings as you continue to focus on “peace’ for 2020.
In our recent trip to Tanzania we took, as requested by our Pastor friend, Bibles. Then after worship he asked how many would like a Bible. More hands went up than we had Bibles, and so the Pastors had to decide who would get one, and who would not. This happened in 2 congregations. The sight of that forest of hands, and what suddenly was a small pile of Bibles, broke my heart. Not politics, as you narrate, but economics, for me.
Peace
I can’t imagine not having a Bible. Yes, that is heartbreaking to know many don’t have one.
Beautiful writing, Wendy. May your encouraging words point people to our loving Creator God who comforts and understands…. Yes, we must pray fervently.
Thank you, dear Iris. Remembering God understands and cares is a great comfort for us.
I share your feelings. Every day I watch my local news, Fox News, and 2 different Israel news channels…I24 and TV7 Israel news.
I pray as I see anti-Semitism growing and spreading throughout the world. I pray for President Trump I pray as I see the evil that seeks to kill babies under the guise of women’s health rights.
I also pray as I see suffering people in Iran, Australia, China, and Hong Kong. <3
I’m also hoping more and more people remember to consider the health rights of the unborn. They’re no less human–no less important–than the women who happen to be pregnant.
There’s a lot of support out there for birth mothers to say yes to life. I know because I happen to be babysitting my unplanned grandson who is napping at this moment. <3 I'm glad my son said yes to life when he asked what he wanted to happen.
Words true and brave, Wendy.
Thank you, dear Cynthia. I admire your brave & beautiful writing.
This is a daily occurrence for me, to pray for the injustice around our globe, to pray for the lack of understanding among our people, to pray for forgiveness for a people actively turning away from following God’s ways… much to carry to him in prayer.
I agree there’s “much to carry to him in prayer.” I’m grateful He hears, cares, and works through love. Blessings, dear Gracie. <3