So much is wrong in this sorry old world. The “bad guys” seem to be prevailing and getting away with every evil act they perpetuate. I felt very angry as I read some of the news today, and I felt the injustice and despair of it all. How could this evil go on unchecked? I just finished reading Jane Goodall’s book and during her interviews, she admitted that she has felt anger and despair over all this horrific stuff evil people do. Yet, she continues to hope and I find that I do too.
We used to go to church every single Sunday when I was little and lived on Long Island. My parents were Deaf so I don’t know what they would get out of the services; there were no interpreters provided in the early 60s. I think one reason they went is because it was expected of them. My grandparents, aunt and uncle all attended the same church we did. I remember learning verses for the “big” services: Christmas and Easter.
When we moved to Maryland, we didn’t go to church anymore. There was a Presbyterian church not far away but my parents would drop my brother and me off for Sunday school and leave to visit Deaf friends. Pete and I weren’t happy with our classes. I was uncomfortable with the boys bragging on their late night escapades. They’d stolen a stop sign and even the teacher thought it was hilarious. We told our parents we didn’t want to go. There was two churches for the Deaf but my parents chose not to go.
I eventually did go to the Christ Methodist Church for the Deaf for a couple of years. It was there I learned sign language and more in-depth Bible stories. With my roommate as a young adult, I visited an Episcopal Church and learned more about Maundy Thursday. Today is Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday. The word maundy has to do with foot washing, which was something Jesus did frequently. He’d humbly wash the feet of other people. It led up to the Last Supper, where Jesus broke bread and shared wine with his disciples.
For Christians, this week is the holiest of the year. When I use the word Christian here, I mean the real believers. The followers of The Word. I am not talking about the ones who claim to be Christian but who are homophobic, racist and selfish. Those so-called “Christians” seem to be running everything and that sure is depressing.
But it won’t always be that way. First, there are people in the world with loving, generous hearts. They are not all Christian. Followers of any religion or faith can have a heart filled with love for others. Skin color, different faith, different sexuality doesn’t matter. We’re all humans. Being human with a loving, caring heart doesn’t mean perfection. We can get angry or afraid. Even the apostles weren’t perfect. Jesus asked three of them to stay awake and watch over him, but they didn’t.
I find hope in the belief that all of the good and caring people in the world can bring change to the evil around us by standing together. It’s not easy, especially when the evil is in authority. But I think if people have the courage to speak out, there would be enough voices to bring about the change we need.
If not, though, I have faith in knowing where I will end up.
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