You might have noticed I’m not much for speaking a controversial word. I weigh my words carefully. I hold this place as sacred as I can. I know you come here to be encouraged. To grow in your faith. To connect. I don’t want to overwhelm you with sensational topics you can surely devour other places if you like. It isn’t that I don’t read about all the other heated conversations. I do. I read. I glean. I think.

This long hot summer has simmered hotter than usual. Saints gunned down in their house of worship seems to  have somehow been reduced to an argument over a flag. Another group fights for their rights and finds victory when their flag is projected on the people’s house for all to see.

Flags and rights.

Rights and flags.

And honestly I don’t know what to say that really could change much. So mostly, I watch. And I pray.

But today I read of more things, horrific things close to home and far away. These things tipped the scale of silence in my heart and all I could think of is somewhere the children are weeping. Where are those that weep with them?

Lord grant us the wisdom of Solomon because our days are dark:

 “And the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So a sword was brought before the king.  And the king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other.” Then the woman whose son was alive said to the king, because her heart yearned for her son, “Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means put him to death.” But the other said, “He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him.”  Then the king answered and said, “Give the living child to the first woman, and by no means put him to death; she is his mother.” And all Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered, and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice.”

1 Kings 3:24-28

Lord,

Have mercy on us Lord. Without your mercy we will fall to pieces under the weight of our world.

Have mercy Lord.

May we all put down our flags waving our own rights before the masses.  Before we defend our positions may we go low.  May we fall on our knees before you and cry out, “Give us the wisdom of Solomon.”  May we see through the propaganda, the story, the talk, and hear truth. Speak Lord. Speak. We are listening and longing for you to come.

But when we do speak, give us the wisdom of Solomon. So others will hear it and be in awe of you, not our fancy refined words.

“When the news of the king’s wise judgment spread throughout Israel, they all feared him. They respected him because they perceived God’s wisdom in his just judgment.”

Lord let your wisdom be in our just judgment.

And while we wait for you, we will weep with the children.

Mothers will weep for their children.

And surely, you are weeping with us.

Amen.