By Hannah Sweet
The world is standing on the precipice of change. Together we must decide the course which we will go, but how do we know which is the right way to go? This is an especially difficult conundrum when there are a million voices crying out, each with their own opinion. I can’t make that decision, speak for the billions, but I can say this, we are all God’s children, regardless of any contributing factors, we were all created in his image. So with that in mind, I wonder, why would he want us to all be the same, yet make us all so very different?
Think on the words of 1 Peter 3:8 & 9 and consider the ways in which God wants us to be the same, instead of looking at all the things that separate us from one another.
“8 All of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.”
Imagine for a moment that every single one of God’s children, which as we’ve discussed is every single person on the planet, took these words to heart. We blessed those who hurt us, we sympathized with those who are in pain, and we loved everyone, even if we don’t necessarily like them. What a world that would be. I cannot even begin to imagine the blessings we could reap from such an act as this.
Yet, as I look around our broken world standing still at this pivotal moment, the actions I see are not ones leading toward the words of Peter and the hopes he had for the future. What are we left to do but wonder, wonder what we can do from here? How do we change something so big, when we are so small? The answer is simple, we ask God for help. We pray. As I ponder this I am reminded of the lyrics to a song from the Hunchback of Notre Dame, the Disney version. They have become my prayer in a time such as now when I don’t know where else to go from where I am, but to hope for the future and to pray for the Children of God. So I urge you to listen to the song, God Help the Outcasts, take the words Esmeralda sings, hold them to your heart, and use them as your prayer in this difficult time.
I don't know if You can hear me, or if You're even there. I don't know if You would listen to a sinner’s prayer. Yes, I know I'm just an outcast, I shouldn't speak to you. Still I see Your face and wonder were You once an outcast too? God help the outcasts, hungry from birth. Show them the mercy, they don't find on Earth. Please help the people. We look to you still. God help the outcasts, or nobody will. I ask for nothing. I can get by, but I know so many less lucky than I. Please help the people, the poor and down trod. I thought we all were The children of God. God help the outcasts, Children of God.