Disquiet

I have many fears at this time.

I fear that this disquiet will go unabated for quite some time.

I fear that this disquiet will end too quickly.

I fear that people all over the world will succumb to hopelessness and tear everything down - not simply physical things, not man-made temples, nor palaces built for kings, nor edifices built to reflect idols of avarice, pride, envy, anger and lust, we could throw sloth and gluttony in there, too - but a demolition of love and trust, care and community.

I fear that we will live in a constant state of terror and chaos, not because we have to, but because we choose to.

I fear that we will remain unmovable, stuck, frozen in the latest way to hate other people.

I fear that we have reached this place in Isaiah 32:6,7

For the fool speaks folly, his mind is busy with evil. 
He practices ungodliness and spreads error concerning the Lord;
the hungry he leaves empty and from the thirsty he withholds water.
The scoudrels methods are wicked, he makes up evil schemes to destroy the poor with lies,
even when the plea of the needy is just.

It would be quite easy to appropriate this verse and place it squarely on the shoulders of one man, one leader, one government - it might even be just to do so. We are all this 'fool' at times. But the one who points to another and calls him or her a 'fool' is in danger... as Jesus says, so I will refrain from inserting the name of a fool, and point to our foolishness, because truly:

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God so that when the day of evil comes you may be able to stand your ground.

It would be quite simple to vilify the 'other side' and create that person, that group, that race, that profession, that political party to be the enemy. In that difficult simplicity, we are divided and a divided people is much easier to conquer. Going out to violently protest, riot or even become a novice news reporter by doing live updates on social media only encourages, to some extent, a need to make this an event rather than a transformation. All change must come through pain, but this painful protest, encouraged and even discouraged, does not allow the vision for the future to actually be spoken.

Here is a glimpse of the Kingdom of Righteousness and what the rulers of the Kingdom will be like:
See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice.
Each person will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm.
like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.
Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed
and the ears of those who hear will listen
The mind of the rash will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear.
No longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be highly respected...  (Isaiah 32:1-5)

Is it not the vision for the Kingdom of God to be where God's will and power reign, not thirst for personal power over and above others who we have labeled the enemy?

For some, this might sound too religious or to soft, but we can only speak that which is written for us and the Word calls out to all people to remind us -

The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever.
(Isaiah 32:17)

Let us all rise up together to struggle for perpetual justice, righteousness and peace.