A prayer for our nation | Zephania Kameeta
by Elouise
Dear Friends,
Today is Memorial Day. A day to honor those who served or lost their lives in various wars. I love our country, and I honor those who served with honor.
Sadly, many of us have denied, forgotten or minimized how little our country does for living veterans. Their bodies and spirits fight daily against disabilities and diseases directly related to their military service. I reject the argument I heard again just this week: These disabilities and diseases are part of what they signed up for.
It is not an exaggeration to say our military personnel of color have suffered the most neglect. Not just in terms of health, but in terms of post-war benefits. Our country applauded them while they were serving in active duty. Yet adequate funds for housing, education, health and other benefits have been withheld from most of them for decades.
I remember how distressed our black ex-military seminarians were when their academic support from the USA was diminished far below that being received by our white ex-military students. It wasn’t the first time this had happened to black ex-military personnel.
This is a problem for the USA government. However, it’s also a problem for all of us in the USA. We’ve lost our way with ex-military personnel (and their families), women military personnel, and everyday citizens of all colors. They are entitled to their just rights and honor.
I love this country. I also love Reverend Zephania Kameeta’s rendition of Psalm 114 for today’s world. An honored and honorable church leader in Namibia, he offers a timely challenge for all of us.
Psalm 114
When the oppressed people left the house of colour worshippers,
when the despised left the state of slavery and racism,
they became the Lord’s holy people,
the oppressed became his own possession.
The oppressors looked and ran away;
the worshippers of race and colour were paralyzed.
The mountains skipped like goats with joy;
and the hills jumped about like lambs in happiness.
Tremble, earth, at the coming of our Liberator,
at the presence of our God,
who hears the prayers of the poor,
who changes despair into hope and sorrow into joy!
A prayer from Why O Lord? Psalms and sermons from Namibia, by Zephania Kameeta, p. 41
© 1986 World Council of Churches, Geneva, Switzerland
Thanks for stopping by this Memorial Day.
Elouise♥
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 31 May 2021
Photo found at parkhillsrca.org
Telling the Truth 
Hear! Hear! Sadly so we have neglected, oppressed, and abandoned our military men and women with disgrace. We broke our promise. They kept theirs. How do we begin to right this wrong? Can we right this? Only if each and ever American starts immediately to reach out to all Service men , women, and their families. Stop Racism toward our military NOW. Show respect and be thankful God help us to “love mercy, love justice, and walk humble with our God.”
Micah 6:8 …do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
…act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Lorraine
Thank you for this article!
Your book arrived on Friday and I’m reading a little each day. I so appreciate your words of kindness written to me and the fellowship we share. Shalom.
>
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, Lorraine! I’m happy to see you here again, and glad to know the book arrived. As for racial justice, we have a long way to go. Your comment says it well. 🙏🏻💜💕
LikeLike
Excellent, Elouise. Thank you.
Marilyn
Get Outlook for Android
________________________________
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re most welcome, Marilyn. Maybe one day we’ll be able to step back and see ourselves clearly. These are distressing days. So much hope and so little visible follow through. Sometimes it feels like we’re sinking in our own muck. Or we’ve moved on to something less daunting. The time to do what’s right quickly fades, and the damage just keeps multiplying so that we don’t even know where or how to begin addressing it.
LikeLike