Confession is Good for the Soul
I’ve lost count of how many weeks we’ve been quarantined. Ten maybe? Eleven? It’s all a blur. The only thing that feels certain to me right now is that the uncertainty is going to continue for the foreseeable future. So I’m trying to simply live in the now and not let myself become overwhelmed by all of the what-ifs.
This week has been particularly hard as our deep sense of vulnerability and loss because of the pandemic has been complicated by acts of racial violence caught on video and delivered straight to our devices. We’re at a point where it takes more energy to stick our heads in the sand than to open our eyes and allow ourselves to see what’s going on. And we must open our eyes. By the grace of God we must find the courage to face the evil head on. To see it today as clearly as we can, and pray for the vision to see it more clearly tomorrow.
Does a fish know what water feels like? Probably not, because it’s all the fish knows. That’s how racism is. So many of us don’t even notice it because we are so used to it. But we have to become aware. We have to learn. We have to grow. We have to! Because it has to change and we all have to be a part of the process.
A particularly painful part of that process is becoming aware of our own racism. Becoming aware of society’s racism, Trump’s racism, the racism of history — those are all easier than becoming aware of the evil that lies within our own brains and our own hearts. But we can become aware of our own sin, and we must.
But this is the thing you have to remember — it is a process! You aren’t going to see all of the racism hidden in your heart today, but God will reveal it to you if you are open. If you allow the Spirit of God to soften your heart She will do it, trust me! One step at a time. But you have to surrender yourself to the humility of the long haul. You have to realize that you’re not going to smoke out all of the racism that is hidden in yourself today or tomorrow or even this year. It’s going to be a lifelong process of learning and growing, of becoming aware and repenting. And that’s good. That’s honest work. That’s the work of becoming an anti-racist — admitting that you don’t have it all figured out but you’re willing to keep working.
One place to start is confession. Simply confessing that you’re a part of the problem and asking God to help you change. It’s simple. But it’s hard to do because it takes humility and humility isn’t comfortable. It’s simple but it’s serious. It’s a good starting point and it’s also a check-in place to return to over and over again — even daily.
Courageously confessing.
Courageously repenting.
Courageously stepping out into love, into action, into life led and empowered by the Spirit of God who will lead you further and further into love.
I’ve recorded the prayer of confession that was shared by Be The Bridge, a Christian anti-racist organization. You can pray along with me here, anytime you’d like. Or you can download it to your device.
May God hear our prayers.
May God have mercy on us.
May God grant us peace.
All of us. True and lasting.
Shalom
