Tell God all about it Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:5-6 Yet another earthquake in Haiti! Followed quickly by a tropical storm.
And also, this week a brutal regime returns to power in Afghanistan. We often struggle when tragic or difficult things happen in our world. We question where God was in the midst of disasters and conflicts. We wonder how a good God could allow this (fill in the blank) to happen. So, what are we to do? We might start with the verses above from Philippians. Paul reminds us that the church is to be a gentle community in every circumstance. We are to remember that God is present...at hand. And if God is present, he invites us to give our anxiety to him in the form of prayer and supplication and thanksgiving. In other words, tell God all about it. Paul reminds us that our first response to anything that troubles us is to offer it to God in prayer. Now that doesn't mean that we stop there. I do think that often as we pray God shows us what actions we might take. For many of our brothers and sisters in Haiti and in Afghanistan this will mean direct action: whether that is helping to rebuild from the rubble or caring for those who have been hurt physically and psychologically.
For many of us it may be the indirect things that we can do such as donating or becoming informed as to how we can best support the work on the ground in faraway places. For some, it may involve making phone calls or writing letters and asking those with power to take action. This Sunday as we gather on the banks of the Colorado River for worship we will most certainly be praying for our brothers and sisters around the world. We will also have the opportunity to take a small form of action: our loose plate offering will go to support relief efforts in Haiti.
It may just be that through our prayers and actions people in faraway places will find the reassurance that the Lord is at hand. Blessings, Matthew+ O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP p. 812) | 
