Wisdom in a Time of Weeping

Last updated on: June 21, 2016 at 7:23 am by Eric Smith

Wisdom in a Time of Weeping 2016-06-19T05:28:32-06:00 Eric Smith

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The woman Wisdom holding the Ecclesia (church), from a medieval manuscript of the work of Hildegard of Bingen. Image in the public domain, taken from Wikipedia.

By: Adama Brown

I’ve never ventured to Orlando, Florida. However, at times during the past week, my weeping for the Orlando49, many of whom were queer, black, brown, and Latinx, has been uncontrollable and inconsolable. I didn’t know any of them personally yet I knew all of them. Their pictures are a reflection of me and my queer family. Violence against queer people in general and queer persons of color in particular is not new. Still, the murder of so many queer black, brown, Latinx bodies in one space, sacred bodies fashioned in the image of the Divine, is staggering and unfathomable.

Politicians have weighed in heavily on this tragedy, framing it in many ways, calling it a terrorist attack, radicalized Islam, and calling for a complete ban on the entrance of Muslim people into the U.S. At the same time, seldom has the root of the problem, homophobia, and in the case of this current event, internalized homophobia, been uttered in mainstream media. All the while, the politicos continue to fall short of naming this creation simply for what it is: hate.

Proverbs reminds us that the Divine’s first creation was in the form of wisdom, a co-partner with the Divine in all of creation. Recently, hate seems to have beget hate in the form of xenophobia and Islamophobia. The reframing of this tragedy solely as a national security issue disregards queer POC lives and moves us away from much needed discourse about the violence and discrimination that disproportionately impacts queer POC’s. Where is wisdom in the political and social climate of our times? Who bears liability for the systemic oppression that has proven to be life-limiting for queer persons of color?

There are no straightforward answers to these questions. In the days ahead, my queer siblings should be reminded that they are fearfully and wonderfully made, and that they were created and knit together by the Divine. The hands of the Divine both lead and hold them.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

June 19, 2016

God and Suffering in the Wake of Violence

Next Post

June 28, 2016 The Hardening of Hearts

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

In Revelation, what color is the horse ridden by Death?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Pale (or green) White Red Black