Since Ash Wednesday, February 18, I have only posted twice on my Tongue On Fire blog — once about the death of Rev. Jesse Jackson, and once about the theological justification (and eschatological delight) for Trump’s preemptive and unprovoked war against Iran–a war that was supposed to conclude victoriously in four weeks, but has now entered its fourth month.
Part of the reason for my silence was the season of Lent. The church that I serve embarked on a journey of nonviolent resistance–considering the Scriptures that call God’s people to peacemaking, love and prophetic witness in the face of injustice and abuse of power. I wrote daily during Lent on the Kimball Avenue Church blog, reflecting on the Scriptures and sharing resources. I also read the book, The Powers That Be by Walter Wink, which I highly recommend. It was tough to find time to write additional posts for this blog. After the conclusion of Lent, my wife and I enjoyed several weeks of travel. Writing consisted of taking notes on the hundreds of photos we took to remember the details of what we saw and experienced.
But there is another reason for my silence: The endless barrage of “news” coming out of this administration. Every day, I am overwhelmed with social media tirades, behind-the-scenes dickering, backroom deals (ie “settlements” that enrich the first family), the whiplash of on-again/off-again peace agreements, the constant, torturous drip of word vomit and more. There is too much to process, and there is too little time to put together a coherent sentence — let alone a thoughtful post — that addresses the craziness through the lens of my faith before the next “drop” of insanity interrupts my thoughts.
All that said, I realize that silence cannot become a permanent condition. My tongue is still on fire and I am committed to putting my musings into the cloud for my own sanity — and for the encouragement of others. I may not be able to post every day, but I promise you’ll hear something from me on a more regular basis.
Peace, dear friends. But no silence.
Tongue on Fire 