We want to hide pain

“I’m just not opening my news app any more.”

I get it. There is a tendency to dismiss “news” as sensational. The old adage, “If it bleeds, it leads” seems to be on steroids.

Or… is it a disruption to our comfortable narrative and we just, quite simply, don’t want to be disturbed?

While we can say it may be a little bit of both, I’m thinking we’re just not wanting our comfort disrupted even more. Not right now.

It was disrupted last year while we were quarantined and had to face the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd with nothing else to do. Now… we want the noise back in our lives.

We don’t want our souls troubled. We don’t know how to grieve or lament. So… it’s easier to ignore it and blame the news media.

I want to sit in some psalms of lament today as I continue to process, observe, and mourn over all that is going on in our nation. This is a day I choose to not hide.

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me? (Ps. 13:1-2)

Hear me, Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
for I put my trust in you. (Ps. 86:1-4)

Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;
those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
Everyone lies to their neighbor;
they flatter with their lips
but harbor deception in their hearts.
May the Lord silence all flattering lips
and every boastful tongue—
those who say,
“By our tongues we will prevail;
our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”
“Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,
I will now arise, ” says the Lord.
“I will protect them from those who malign them.”
And the words of the Lord are flawless,
like silver purified in a crucible,
like gold refined seven times.
You, Lord, will keep the needy safe
and will protect us forever from the wicked,
who freely strut about
when what is vile is honored by the human race. (Ps. 12)

Lord, help me to NOT look away. The grief is too great. Hear our cry. HOW LONG, O LORD?