My heart has been so heavy today…This morning I was watching the Today Show and there was a story about a young lady from Minnesota who was a real free spirit. She traveled the country as a nanny, was well educated and a friend to many. She was back in Minnesota and answered an ad for a nanny position on Craig’s List. Answering this ad is what led to her rape and murder by a 20 year old young man that had posted the ad simply because he wanted to kill someone. Although this story itself made me very sad and angry…it was the other feelings it stirred within me that I took throughout my day. This young lady came from a very close family who has a strong love for the Lord.
During the course of the trial, the family called on their community through various social media outlets and friends to come and surround them in court and share in their grief and stand in the trenches with them. The image of 45 plus strangers standing in court everyday with this family made me think of similar tragedies such as 911, the war in Iraq and the worldwide problem of children in slavery.
My heart is heavy because I know that I am called…no…we all are called to lift up and stand with those that are grieving or have been hurt by the social injustices of THIS world. WE must give them a voice and visibility in the face of those who wish to shut them up. THAT is why my heart was so heavy. It hit me more today than in the past that I have an obligation to suffer with, pray and lift up those who are in a dark place. Now my faith tells me that if I tried to do this alone, I would fail and become all consumed. So, I began praying and asking for strength. This evening before I started writing this piece, I was reading from the book of Psalms and found this passage and it is now hanging on my mirror in my bathroom for the next week where I will repeat it every time I see it…”Jesus heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3
This weekend I will be serving as a volunteer at the Outbound Movement event being sponsored by Crossroads Community Church, the International Justice Mission and several other organizations. This event is a weekend of prayer and education around social injustices and particularly child slavery. If you travel through downtown Cincinnati this weekend you may see over 500 teenagers and adults marching in prayer and unison over the Purple Bridge. They will be speaking for those who can’t and lifting up those who are weak and weary. If you see them…I hope you take the time to shout out a word of encouragement to these young people.
Right before I closed my Bible tonight, I played I game I sometimes like to test where I ask God if there is something he wants me to know or be reminded of then to show me that. So, I will close my Bible and then open it up and read whatever is on the page. Tonight, I really felt like God was speaking to me for this is the passage that leapt off the page…I kid you NOT! It is from the book of Isaiah 61: vs 2-3. It says, “He was sent to heal the broken hearted, and to proclaim liberty, freedom, to the captives. He was sent to comfort all who mourn, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.
While I now feel better, I know that this is not the time to become complacent but to put my armor on for this weekend because there are lots of children throughout this world that are being exploited and someone…me…needs to be in the trenches with them.
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I appreciate your take on this Christy. I, too, have been made aware of the need to surround the hurting. It is an interesting phenomenon that victims are often rejected and further victimized. It is our responsibility to be Jesus to them and bind their wounds. Thanks for sharing.
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