“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5
Several days in September reminded Memphis and the world that evil does exist. We were distraught, scared, fearful, sad, and angry. We questioned God. We wanted answers. We still want answers.
We wondered if life could be normal again. We wondered if our wives, sisters, mothers, and daughters were ever safe. We wondered if a trip on 240 or a brief errand to Autozone would be where we met our death.
In the aftermath though, light pierced the darkness. I saw it at my children’s schools, St. Mary’s and Christ Methodist Day School, where families came together to lift up and support each other. I saw it in the thousands of runners and more supporters lining streets in defiance and catharsis, each stride offering a little more hope. I saw it in emails circulating about our justice system and how the community can be involved. I saw it in concerned citizens attending meetings and organizing to beat back and defeat the evil of this fallen world that has tried to take up residence in our neighborhoods. I saw it in increased funding for the State Crime Lab.
We are not healed. The wound is there. The grief is there. The absence of our friends and family is there. We are scarred, but with the light, we are not scared.
Father, You are that light. You pierce darkness. You reveal the true nature of what’s around us. Lord, we see this world’s brokenness and we ask that your healing power come into it. We lift up those grieving the death of loved ones, that you continue to surround and embrace those in mourning with love and encouragement. We pray for Memphis and all those places where darkness seems to be winning, in neighborhoods or in the hearts of lost men and women. Lord, shine your light. Raise up a people, Your children, to love our neighbors in ways that draw them to You. Tonight, we ask that the Hope that shines forth from your glory is present in our lives.
Lord, we lift up the court system and law enforcement in holding evil accountable. We pray that sin is vanquished. We pray that you intercede to prevent two lives from being destroyed by a bad decision. Stop the trigger from being pulled. Unclench the fists. Bless the work of those bringing light to the darkness. Amen.