Devotion: Waiting & Forgiveness
Waiting and Freedom – Reflections on our study in Exodus
I’ll be the first to admit that our sermon study through the book of Exodus has stirred a lot of thought in my with-God life to the point that it consumes most of my free-time thoughts.
And, with the stress of the COVID pandemic and now the civil unrest due to the very disheartening murder of George Floyd, I am dealing with tensions and beliefs that have been untouched for most of my life.
The recent sermons by Pastor Greg and Pastor Rhonda have given me a reason to reflect on how I understand race relations and how prevalent the tension truly is in American culture and society.
And as I watch the protests, riots, and political bigotry spotlighted in the media, I have become aware, now more than ever, that I exemplify white privilege.
My life as a white male has been one that accommodates a privilege that enables me to live without questioning whether law enforcement will protect me should I call upon them for help. I have had many interviews and different jobs throughout my life, and not once did I ever consider whether the decision to hire me would be based on the color of my skin.
There are many prejudice and unjust profiling considerations that a person of color faces daily. I am deeply disturbed by the latest events in Minneapolis and Georgia. As I follow the media’s coverage I have plenty of questions and I’m left with little comfort.
Even so, I am reminded of Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep (Matt. 18:10-14 and Luke 15:3-7). In this parable, we learn that the moral of this story is that any and all people are valuable to God. There are many other encounters where Jesus dines with and connects in very intimate familial ways with people who the Pharisees thought to be outcasts and not worthy of human quality of life.
Moreover, the Israelite’s fear and anger as they were escaping the enslavement of the Egyptians validate why minorities in the United States have a right to be fearful and angry as they protest.
In today’s economy, and in the frenetic pace of my own life, I have fallen into a routine of little to no self-reflection when it comes to race relations. That is not okay.
Racial biases were not okay when Moses walked the earth.
Racial biases were not okay when Jesus shared the parable of the lost sheep.
Racial biases were not okay when Rosa Parks stepped on the bus.
Racial biases were not okay when Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous speech.
Racial biases are not okay.
Racial biases are not okay in our heart, mind, body, or soul.
Racial biases are not okay in our family.
Racial biases are not okay in our neighborhood.
Racial biases are not okay in our workplaces.
Racial biases are not okay in our church.
Racial biases are evil and not a reflection of the life and love of Jesus.
If you have read my devotion this far, it’s worth reading this line again:
Racial biases are evil and not a reflection of the life and love of Jesus.
And in 2020, as the senseless death toll of African Americans continues to rise, time has moved forward, but it seems the world Jesus would want us to live in, free of bias and racism and death, has not changed.
This reflection has catalyzed my prayers for the people of color who are hurting, disadvantaged, and marginalized.
My hope is that God will continue to wrestle with my heart and provide restlessness, courage, and guidance to help me listen and become an ally with those who live a different past and present than me.
May we as humans partner with God to renew all things.
A Franciscan Blessing
May God bless you with discomfort,
At easy answers, half-truths,
And superficial relationships
So that you may live
Deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression,
And exploitation of people,
So that you may work for
Justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears,
To shed for those who suffer pain,
Rejection, hunger and war,
So that you may reach out your hand
To comfort them and
To turn their pain to joy.
And may God bless you
With enough foolishness
To believe that you can
Make a difference in the world,
So that you can do
What others claim cannot be done
To bring justice and kindness
To all our children and the poor.
Amen
Exodus 14:30-15:3
“That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.
The Song of Moses and Miriam
Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:
“I will sing to the Lord,
for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver
he has hurled into the sea.
“The Lord is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
The Lord is a warrior;
the Lord is his name.”
Written by Matt Clay
Matt and his wife Joanna have two young daughters, Emery and Madisen. The Clay’s have been members of the Sheridan community since 2014.
Matt’s spiritual growth has been influenced by the teaching of the late Dallas Willard, which led Matt to pursue an M.A. in Spiritual Formation from Spring Arbor University.
Matt works full-time in the financial industry and believes that God has called him to be a steward of His grace and presence in the marketplace.