“Undisturbed in spirit by another’s misery”

“Undisturbed in spirit by another’s misery”

Hymn: “God, Whose Purpose Is to Kindle”

Text: Elton Trueblood (1900-1994)

Various Tunes: EBENEZER, HOLY MANNA

I presented a Hymn Line from this great text in my book of devotionals. I have this one and three others in my list to deal with because Elton Trueblood’s theology and his deep sense of social justice (he was a Quaker) speak similarly to my own thoughts on God, the church, and culture.

To put this in context, here is the full statement from the text:

            “Save us now from satisfaction when we privately are free,

            Yet are undisturbed in spirit by another’s misery.”

In our personal freedom, we are often satisfied – even complacent. Our being oblivious to the plight of others who are not so satisfied with their status is appalling. If our spirit is not disturbed by all the inequities and inequalities of Les Miserables (the miserable ones) around us, something needs to be adjusted. Trueblood asks God to save us from ourselves when we drift into smugness.

We have allowed these divisions to get out of control. Pretending that things are “okay” does not make them so. In fact, that kind of pretention is at the root of the church’s lack-of-stance against the imbalances that exist in the society in which we move… and demonstrate… and vote.

Racial partisanship is probably the most obvious, but the walls are many… the glass ceilings, the caged children, the alienated throngs. We have pulled our health-conscious face-masks up to cover our eyes… to protect us from realities we’d rather not confront.

The term “complicit” is troubling to me. Is it troubling to you? I do not want to “have a part (role) in a crime” against anyone… anyone! But any time I am accused of complicity, I have to stop and ask myself “Am I?” With the apostle-band, I question “Is it I, Lord?” Before I can mark myself absent from that position, I must do a quick (or lengthy) self-examination. If in that sincere assessment we find ourselves undisturbed by another’s misery, we are to be pitied.

I’ll give you a minute to think on that – then you can join me in this prayer:

“O God, save us from ourselves. Since Your purpose is to kindle a fire within your people, burn now within us with a passion yet unseen in the modern-day church. Amen.”