Cut Off

Waiting for the bus, sitting on the way to class, waiting for classes to start, and in between classes, I was amazed by the amount of people talking about the government shutdown. And by amount, I'm referencing the lack thereof. I did not hear a single person talking to their friends about the hundreds of thousands of people that are furloughed for the foreseeable future. It is fascinating to me that in a generation that is inundated by technology and media, we are more cut off from the world than ever before. My peers, and often myself, are so consumed with our own lives and our own happenings that we forget to look up and look around.

Several mass killings of Christians have taken place in the past few weeks. 85 men, women, and children were killed coming out of a church in Pakistan. 72 non-Muslims were killed in a mall Nairobi, Kenya (these people were held at gunpoint and asked if there were non-Muslims or Christians. If they answered in the affirmative, they were killed immediately). In Egypt, dozens of Christian churches (58) and Christian owned businesses (>160) have been attacked in persecution efforts going on since 2003. The list goes on and on and on. These are our brothers and sisters. How are we supposed to mourn our brothers and sisters if we don't even know what's going on?

I'm guilty of the same self-centered tendencies. I've been known to choose New Girl over the news because I don't want to be bummed out. It's much, much easier to live out comfortable lives, blissfully unaware of what's going on around us, down the street or across the world. But that doesn't eradicate the fact that there are things going on around the world that we should be aware of. I don't want to forget that my brothers and sisters are hurting, are dying, are freezing and starving. I can't live my life in a constant state of misery, nor do I think that that is what we are called to do, but I can be aware. I can offer up a prayer for them. I can, at the very least, recognize how very blessed I am every. single. day. I don't want to be cut off from the world, even if it's sad or hard. Even if I feel completely and wholly powerless.

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me int he day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me. -Psalm 50:14-15

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they be secure who love you! -Psalm 122:6

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all whoa re in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. -1 Timothy 2:1-2