Be Patient in Tribulation

My soul is not often deeply troubled. There are rarely moments in which I am fully consumed by grief. There are even fewer moments where I feel this way without explanation.

This afternoon was one such moment.

Maybe ten minutes into my 3:30 meeting, my heart began to sink. Gazing out the window, I felt compelled to pray for each person I saw. My uneasiness grew and I questioned my feelings. Was it caffeine-induced anxiety? Was I being paranoid about the fate of each person that walked down Wells Street? Was this the Holy Spirit bringing me into intercession for things I did not know?

Deep consternation fell over me. I could not sit still. My heart pulsated. Something was terribly wrong.

I wanted to do nothing but walk out of that room and collapse on my floor in prayer. I knew not why but I knew I had to.

I was told someone was injured. Then I was told someone was shot. Living in downtown Chicago, even that didn't startle me terribly.

Then I read someone was dead — shot by a police officer. At Chicago and Wells. On my corner.

I collapsed on my floor and cried. I know few details and am sure I do not know the person, but my soul weeps for his death and is sorrowful for the families of all those involved.

Patience in Tribulation. That's this week's theme. I am halfway done with a beautiful piece about bearing with problems patiently, but this — this is a different kind of patience in tribulation. This is the patience that has us crying out "Come Lord Come!" The patience which knows that God knows what he is doing and will come at the right time. It is the patience of 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but all should reach repentance."

God, I long for you to come. I long for the redemption of your people, of this earth. Come, Lord, Come. But, Lord, teach me patience. Fill me with your wisdom, your desires, your timing. 

From the Book of Common Prayer by Shane Claiborne, a prayer for the "death of someone killed in the neighborhood" as they phrase it:

Lamb of God,
you take away the sins of the world.
Have mercy on us.
Grant us peace.

For the unbearable toil of our sinful world,
we plead for remission.
For the terror of absence from our beloved,
we plead for your comfort.
For the scandalous presence of death in your creation,
we plead for the resurrection.

Lamb of God,
you take away the sins of the world.
Have mercy on us.
Grant us peace.
Come, Holy Spirit, and heal all that is broken in our lives, in our streets, and in our world. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.