Where is the Love?

There is a lot going on in the world at the moment.  It seems messy, confusing, chaotic and hurtful.  Asylum seekers without a home, starving and dying in waiting. The outcome of a survey being fought over. Climate change affecting people's homes.  Terrorism and gun violence a daily occurrence.  Young people seeking someone to notice them, young people seeking someone to care, young people crying out. Mental health issues increasing, sexual assault and violence, domestic violence.  War. Poverty. Pain. Hurting. Where is the Love? 

We hear the cries but are we actually listening? Do we actually hear the cries of the people around us? Do we hear the cries of the world? Do we hear the cries of the voiceless? Do we hear creations cries?

Are we listening to the prophetic voices in our world?

As I was driving to youth drop in this afternoon from school, the song 'Where is the Love?' by Black Eyed Peas came on the radio.  As I listened to the lyrics, I found myself in tears, listening to the prophetic voice their song gives to the world and yet how 14 years after it was first released the lyrics are still relevant for today. 

But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And when you hate then you're bound to get irate, yeah

When will we celebrate diversity and mean it, spreading love without discrimination? When will be have churches, schools, businesses, sports clubs that love and accept regardless of gender, sexuality, age, race, beliefs, background, social standings?

People killin', people dyin'
Children hurt and you hear them cryin'

Do you hear it? Can you see it? People are dying, People are crying out for help. Do we even notice what is happening around us? Do we hear their cries? Do we see them in our streets, Do we see them in our shops and our schools? Do they cry out for help to our churches or our workplaces? Are we even listening? 

Can you practice what you preach?
Or would you turn the other cheek?

Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love (Love)

Churches, Christian leaders, Religious leaders. Do you practice what you preach? Are you asking for guidance from above? Or do we just look away because it seems too hard? Are we arguing and fighting about issues of theology, philosophy or psychology rather than fighting for hunger, and peace and forgiveness? Rather than helping with restoration, pointing towards hope or unity? 


It seems to me that Black Eyed Peas were something of a prophetic voice in our world back in 2003 when they first released this song. Are we listening to this prophetic voice in our world? Where else do we hear these voices and are we responding to the cries of our world and responding to the prophetic voices? Are we noticing what these voices tell us? 


Father, Father, Father help us. 
Send some guidance from above. 
Let us hear your cries and voice.
Let us see and let us notice.

Father, Father, Father forgive us.
For we are slow to answer.
When you send and when you call,
we would rather be idle.

Father, Father, Father care for us.
Let all people be united.
Let us nurture and us share.
And lay all weapons down in war. 

Father, Father Father we need you,
Help us to hear your voice around.
Let us be stirred up to action.
Because You are the Love. 
The Love. The Love. 
You are the Love, the Love, the Love. 
Amen.


Note: Here is the link to the original song, if you are interested. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpYeekQkAdc