Cathedral of the Church of St. John the Divine

Cathedral of the Church of St. John the Divine, originally uploaded by barrettbw.

I love looking at my brother's flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/barrettbrown/. I can tell what he is walking past, what catches his eye, what triggers his passions. I get a little piece of his world here in Chicago. He has a crazy eye for photography... I want to paint everything he posts.

This particular photo is daunting. I once read that we worship what our tallest buildings signify. Remember when churches were the tallest? Now it's Sears, I mean Willis, Tower. As Easter and Passover are among us... let's ponder:

Who or what do you worship?

The Despised One.

call me
roach and presumptuous
nightmare on your white pillow
your itch to destroy
the indestructible
part of yourself.

audre lorde

I read this today in an article about oppression for class. She discussed her desire to be known and understood by others, for people to understand their own racism and do something about it. She was a half-Hispanic lesbian. Because she looked much more white than brown, she had to claim her own fears and insecurities with her "brown side."

Anyways, I couldn't help but think about Jesus being called The despised One, the One abhorred by the nations. (Is. 49:7) And his life here on earth, For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again. (Luke 18:32-33)

God knows oppression. He identifies with those who are scoffed at. He came to save them, to know their grief, and to love them. Lord help me to see my own affliction upon the oppressed. Help me to love the widow and the orphan as you do. Open my heart to love like you.