A Christian Social Justice Meditation

Matthew 7:12  “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. ~Jesus

Psalm 82:3 "Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute."

 

Lord Christ, Help us to understand your heart for the poor, afflicted and the needy amongst us. Help us to act in Your ways of Love towards our fellow man. So be it. 

Charitable Delusion

With the election coming up next month, those of us active on social media have been in the trenches of one very hostile and divisive election seasons.With the rise of the Christian Left online and many Progressive Christian organizations becoming more and more established, the Christian vote has never been more divided. One thing that I have personally witnessed (to my utter disbelief and disgust) is Conservative Christians turning against the poor of our country. I have heard over and over that "they aren't really poor, they are just lazy," or equally judgemental verbal garbage (aka false witness bearing).

People I've watched and interacted with are up in arms over social programs that they feel are designed specifically to enable these "lazy, drug-using welfare queens and kings." Many of these good Christians declare that they already give enough, that the poor need to get up and work and support themselves and they even shamefully use Christ's words to his disciples, that "the poor will always be among us," against supporting social programs that would help the poor get on their feet, provide education opportunities and the chance at a better future. These people have literally grown to despise and slander the very people that Jesus told us to care for. They can't seem to see that social justice is necessary, instead they believe that charity and love alone will pull these people miraculously out of poverty, when statistics show that this is just not true.

Lord Christ, show us your heart of compassion for the poor and needy in this country. Lord help us to realize the need for social justice. Help us to be your hands and feet to the "least of these." So be it.

Wes, Three Year Observations

(This was written on the 3rd Year mark of my beloved Wes's passing.)

This is the anniversary of the day that my heart broke into a million, tiny pieces when I heard the worst news of my life. Thank God for the shock mechanism of early grief. I remember the staggering pain, but it was immediately followed up with a horrified shock which numbed me down. The following 24 hours were the worst of my life. I spoke with his friends and family, one by one I notified those who loved him as I walked like a zombie through that horrific day. The days to follow would be much the same. Somehow, by the grace of God, I managed to muddle through.

Three years? Seriously, how can it be three years? I have healed much, I have gone on to live and love again and feel joy even. But how has it been three years? The one person that I couldn't go a day without has been gone three years. The funny thing about time is that in grief it really has no meaning. It could be three days or three years. Time takes on a surreal quality. It passes fast, it passes slow, sometimes it just stops. Then you look around and a few years have passed, I have grown older with more wrinkles and Wes looks back at me from the flat framed glass, eternally 39 and smiling back at me like it was just yesterday when I pointed the camera at him and said, "smile."

I have found that though his physical form is gone from my grasp, he is still very much present. Now that my heart has recovered from this devastating loss, I can sense him still, as alive as ever. I do not believe a person is every really lost to us, they change forms, they live on, our memories and how their presence changed us keeps them ever near.

This is some of what I have learned as of today, this the third anniversary of the most devastating loss of my life.

Life goes on in spite of your pain.

Life has beauty, even in loss.

My loved one will always be with me.

Death cannot divide forever.

Time passes whether we want it to or not.

The kindness of strangers, family and friends is Divine Presence in a tangible form during grief.


Sometimes it just helps to be heard.

The Grief Journey is painful, but necessary.

One should not travel through grief alone.

Writing helps more than you can tell at the time.

Crying is healing and strengthening, not a weakness.

Grief is not to be feared, but walked through.

Only people who are grieving or have suffered profound loss can companion you on the journey.

There is life and hope after loss.

More Grief Pages and Resources

Hope Beyond Grief Private Group

A Social Justice Meditation

So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. ~Jesus



Pretty simple, we must begin to care for our fellow man, not just in word, but in deed.

Lord Christ, give us Your heart of compassion for others, especially those in need of help. So be it.

Remembering Wes at 3 Years

Wes, my dearly loved partner, died 3 years ago on October 11th, 2009 at the age of 39. He lived a life of many heartbreaks and many triumphs. When he passed away, I found that his many friends all referred to him as their "best friend." Oddly, this did not surprise me. He made loyalty, honesty and going the extra mile the top priority in his life. He was a friend who cared and made everyone he knew feel special. The world is better off because Wes walked among us. He is still dearly missed by the many people who's lives he touched. These are some photos and items from a life well spent.

One Year, a Poem I wrote for Wes in 2010

Grief Quotes

Grief Pages and Resources

Walt and Wes

Wes in 8th grade





Wes, the logger years

Highschool Poetry Assignment  By Wes, shared by Lisa Leathers Imgarten.

 Resting Place

Sunlight dances through the leaves, soft winds stir in the singing trees, lying in the warm grass, feel the sun upon your face.

Elven songs and endless nights, sweet wine and soft relaxing light, time will never touch you here in this enchanted place.

I've traveled now for many miles, it feel's good to see the smiles of friends that never left your mind when you were far away.

From the golden light of coming dawn, til the twlight when the sun is gone. We treasure every season and every passing day.

You feel something is calling you, your wanting to return, to where the misty mountains rise and friendly fires burn.

A place you can escape the world where the dark light cannot go, peace of mind and sanctuary by the waterfalls flow.

You feel the coming of the new day, dark gives way to light a new way.

Stop here for a while, until the world calls you away. Yet you know, I’ve had the feelling, standing with my senses reeling,
this is the place to grow old until I reach my final day.

Wes Duncanson

Young Navy Guy




Navy SeaBee




a quote by Wes :)




MDOT




Family




Wes and I, Sept 2009




Last photo I took of Wes.








MDOT Newsletter Tribute







MDOT Special Crews Monument Site for Wes

 


Monument to Wes made by his friends at MDOT