Circular Firing Squad

April 19, 2021

Scripture

Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’  But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant.  Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.  (Luke 22:24-27 NLT)

Circular Firing Squad

Some of us remember a thing called cash. We may even remember a $50 bill which had a picture of the RCMP musical ride with the Mounties in a circle with lances pointing inward. In a prior world we would call it a “Nxxxie firing squad”. But not a bad picture of what we are doing increasingly in Canada in these challenging times.

Provincial, federal and municipal politicians, while issuing edicts to control behaviour, also find ways to assign blame to one another. We as citizens vigorously quote “experts” who support our own affirmations and criticisms of what is happening – and more and more anger is emerging from our shared frustration.

I’m no better or worse than you in all this- except I’m assuming I’m right and you are wrong. But shooting at each other isn’t helpful. G. K. Chesterton once said something like “A thing worth doing well, is a thing worth doing badly”. It feels like there is a lot of range in how well we feel we are being served and how well we are serving one another.

If our anger should go anywhere, it is toward the injustices of our society – disadvantaged groups are disadvantaged more by laws and regulations – and often protected less. Let’s be angry about poverty, lack of affordable housing or whatever inequities we can see and do something constructive about. And did I forget prayer? If you are madder at Justin than Doug or vice versa maybe pray first and yell second.

A Prayer for Today

God of Kindness, it is only natural that our frustrations with the current situation boils over into anger and impatience. Help us to be angry about what matters to you. Help us use our energy for advocating for those who don’t have the voice and advantage we do …. For Jesus’ sake