Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.
I have a vision of a woman. She is in a cell. The cell is about 4' by 6', made of block walls. The walls are smooth and painted white. The long walls are plain and unadorned. On one short wall, very high up, is a window. The window is small and covered by a grate, but it lets in some air, light, and, occasionally, rain. On the opposite wall is a steel door. There is a slot in the door near the floor for food to be passed through, and a slot higher up for observation. The woman is afraid of the door. The door does not represent freedom for the woman. The door represents pain, sorrow, and degradation. When she leaves through the door is also when she is most aware of the suffering of her fellow prisoners. She does not like when that door opens.
The floor of the cell is wet, and dirty. Besides the woman, the cell contains a mattress along one wall, a bucket in the corner, and a porcelain bowl from her last meal. The woman is kneeling on the mattress. The sun is shining through the window onto her. Though the air is crisp, her clothes are thin, summer-weight.
The woman's hands are clasped. Her head is bowed. She has been praying. It has been some days since they last opened the door, and she thinks it likely that they will come for her today. She stops her quiet prayer. She throws up her hands and begins to sing to God. She worships him, thanking him for his gift of eternal life and for the sacrifice of Jesus. She recommits her heart to him, declaring that she relies on his mercy and believes in his justice.
She continues to sing, as she hears the sound of booted feet walking in the hall.
Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, and I am so humbled and honored to be counted a brother to those who are imprisoned, beaten, harassed, shunned and otherwise injured and yet who continue to praise God in such circumstances. This praise is especially sweet and significant to God, given as it is in great faith and, sometimes, at much personal cost. And I feel for those who fail in these times, who fall away or who don't stand up for the faith and who feel ashamed of their failure. We owe such brothers and sisters a debt of love and of prayer.
Good word...thanks for sharing that, Peaj.
ReplyDeleteI love the imagery of the imprisoned woman. We need to remember that she is as much a part of us as any other people in the church. Thank you.
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