Texts for despair

‘O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you ‘Violence!’ and you will not save? …Destruction and violence are before me…the law becomes slack and justice never prevails. The wicked surround the righteous – therefore judgement comes forth perverted.’

One of the reasons I love the Judeo-Christian tradition I am steeped in, is its rich vocabulary of lament. The strikingly contemporary words above are from the book of the prophet Habakkuk, probably dating from the late seventh century BC.

The even older Psalms, sacred songs beloved of members of both the Jewish and Christian faiths, cover the whole gamut of emotions; praise and ecstasy sure, but just as much depression, rage and anguish.

Psalm 88, the best-known Psalm of despair, contains many poignant lines, including, ‘For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol… You have put me in the depths of the Pit, in the regions dark and deep.’ Unlike most other Psalms that move eventually to praise, it ends with these words, ‘You have distanced loved ones and neighbours from me. Darkness is my only friend.’ 

Jesus drew on the brutally honest tradition of the Psalms with a bleak line from Psalm 22 as he was dying, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ 

A reading of many of the prophets like Amos, and the quote from Habakkuk remind us, as does the most cursory reading of history, that life has always been grim, and the powerful have always trampled those less so.  Putin (lifelong president if you please), Trump, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong-un, Modi and others are simply the current crop of abusive ruling men. Others of their ilk have wrecked untold damage, not only in the film industry, police and army, but also in institutions where ethical behaviour might be expected - in state, court and church.

I would normally argue that the world is a better place for more people now that it has ever been. Lately, though, despair has been my companion, and I need these ancient words if I am to move beyond it into something more life-giving. The annihilating tools at the disposal of corrupt leaders are frightening enough, but it is global warming that is the game changer; the only new evil, the one that may well finish off the human race. And in my current frame of mind, that might not be a bad thing, not least for the other species that share this planet. 

I’m immobilised by the state of the world; I’m also aware that this doesn’t help anybody. Many of the Psalms start with utter despondency and work their way to hope. If I am to progress out of my paralysis to a place where I can experience the energy of hope – and I long for this - I need to sit with my bleakness and articulate it with the potent words of my spiritual forebears. 

This was published in the August edition of The Melbourne Anglican

Comments

[Barbara Turner-Vesselago]

What a terrific article, Clare -- thank you. It's so articulate and concise, with each word hitting its mark. That's not my state of mind right now, but I'm left feeling that yours may well be a more far-seeing and appropriate one. I will treasure your words when I do feel that way -- if possible, even more profoundly.

[Heather McKean]

Thank you Clare for your reminder of lament and it’s importance. I’ve done some sitting with it lately. Blessings in your sitting. Heather

[Rod]

Thank you Clare for articulating the inexpressible. We are surely calling out of the depths in these times. Lament is a skill that needs to be learned otherwise we just wallow in despair and darkness. The Scriptures are rich in words to help us learn. And while we can name some of those powerful ones who wreak destruction on the world, how do we name and oppose a virus? Its power seems to be not only to bring sickness and death but to bring out the worst in us as human beings. Dividing and conquering us as a community. Indeed, ‘For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol…"