Sighs And Wonders

A wonderful little song came out in the 60's, I think the Kingston Trio sang it... It’s called The Merry Minuet.

They're rioting in Africa, they're starving in Spain

There's hurricanes in Florida, and Texas needs rain.

The whole world is festering with unhappy souls;

The French hate the Germans, and the Germans hate the Poles

Italians hate Yugoslavs, South Africans hate the Dutch;

and I don't like anybody very much.

I won’t sing the whole song, but it ends up with a telling little couplet:

They're rioting in Africa, there's strife in Iran.

What nature doesn't do to us will be done by our fellow man.

It wouldn’t take much to update this song, would it. They’re rioting in France, of all places. They’re starving in Ethiopia. I don’t have to tell you about hurricanes and floods, do I. The worst flood in Slovenia’s history just hit this month. There’s not a lot we can do about natural disasters, what used to be called “acts of God.” Particularly in third world countries, where politics, economics and - in some cases - culture keep communities from adopting safer building techniques or preserving the land’s own ability to absorb and heal from nature’s periodic violent outbursts.

But no matter what we do - or don’t do - to prepare for droughts and floods, man’s inhumanity to man remains a stubbornly intractable problem. Every time we are tempted to think we’ve made progress since the days children were hanged for stealing a loaf of bread, or when prisoners of war were sold on the block to enrich the armies, something pops up in the news to remind us that, to paraphrase Pogo, human beings still present the greatest danger we face. From the Janjaweeed restarting ethnic cleansing in Darfur to the bombing of churches in Pakistan, there’s really no evidence of lasting progress toward universal brotherhood.

When we cry out - as we do - for God to step in, to intervene, we have a particular vision of justice and peace in mind, don’t we. We remember Isaiah’s beautiful promises, and look forward to

"The days when the nations shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." [Is. 2:4]

But I often wonder, when people say, “Where is God at times like this?” if they know what they’re asking for. “Alas for you who desire the day of the LORD! Why do you want the day of the LORD? It is darkness, not light,” [Amos 5:18] said the prophet Amos. One of the few positive signs is the help given to Slovenia by Ukraine, which is already stretched to the breaking point defending itself against Russia. When people can find time amid their own troubles to help a neighbor, that is a sign of the presence of God.

In case this seems dreadfully pessimistic and defeatist, let me assure you that I am neither. God is in charge, and remembering that God’s team always wins - eventually - can bring blessings, and tragedy can turn into adventure. As Christians, as God’s agents of grace, we operate like medics on a battlefield. The job never seems to end, it may even seem naive and foolish. But our God keeps his promises, even if he seems to take rather longer than we would like. And that keeps us on course. As the Psalmist says, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.” [Ps 20:7]

But why not now? Why does God continue to let evil triumph?

This is a cry that has echoed down throughout the ages, from the lament of the Israelite slaves in Egypt to the words of the prophet Habbakuk: “O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you "Violence!" and you will not save? Why do you make me see wrongdoing and look at trouble? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law becomes slack and justice never prevails. The wicked surround the righteous-- therefore judgment comes forth perverted. [Hab 1:2-4] And Scripture even closes with the words, Come, Lord Jesus!” [Rev 22:20b]

We’ve been waiting a long time, haven’t we, for God to show up and make things right. How much would have been different if God had come sooner! How much evil has been done because people thought God doesn’t care, God isn’t watching, God is dead.... And every Christmas we review the promises and celebrate the coming of the Christ child and wonder, “How long, O Lord?” Some of us may even wonder if we are fools, to hold fast to the hope. Maybe we should do as our liberal cousins do and mythologize the whole thing, talking about the “Christ event” as a metaphor for a commitment to peace and love and generosity, rather than a shattering of the old order to make room for the living presence of God himself. It’s been 2000 years. Why doesn’t God do something? What is he waiting for? God, are you really there?