ON PONDERING LAMENTS

WE CELEBRATE YOUR STEADFAST LOVE.
WE PRAISE YOU FOR YOUR MERCY.
WE COUNT ON YOUR FAITHFULNESS.
   WE CELEBRATE AND
       PRAISE AND
       COUNT ON.

AND THEN THE WORLD DOES NOT WORK RIGHT.
    WE FIND OURSELVES UNSAFE AND ANXIOUS,
        CAUGHT UP IN GREED AND SELFISHNESS.,
        BESET BY A CULTURE OF VIOLENCE AND THREAT.

WE WONDER ABOUT THE MISMATCH
        BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR CREATION.

MOSTLY WE TRUST,
        DOWN DEEP, WE SOMETIMES DO NOT.
WE RISK TRUTH-TELLLING
        ABOUT YOUR ABSENCE AND SILENCE AND WITHDRAWL.

WE DO SUCH TRUTH-TELLING,
        TELLING IT TO YOU,
   YOU...ABSENT, SILENT, WITHDRAWN.
   YOU WE ADDRESS, YOU, OUR ONLY HOPE
      IN THIS WORLD AND IN THE WORLD TO COME.

WALTER BRUEGGEMANN