Dear Sisters and Brothers,

For the past five years, I have had the blessing of gathering and connecting, monthly, with Latina leaders and sisters discussing theology, church, and life. About two weeks ago, we spent some time talking about the realities that surround us in our world today.

In the midst of these intense realities, we often carry heavy burdens in our bodies, minds, and hearts. It can get pretty messy if we are not self-aware of how this impacts our bodies, hearts, and relationships. I have found that it is important to quiet our hearts long enough to listen to our tumultuous emotions. Our emotions connect our inner world to the ups and downs of life. Often the connection is more than we can bear. Yet, I believe it is critical that we listen to and ponder what we feel so that we may be able to be moved to the far deeper issue of what our hearts are doing with God and others. Our emotions link our internal and external worlds. And if we neglect to attend to our feelings, it can leave us feeling desolate and distant from God and others.

In Psalm 42:11, the Psalmist asks, “Why, oh soul, are you in despair?” This question calls us to pay attention to our inner world, not neglect it. My friends, if we ignore our emotions, we may very well find ourselves turning our back on reality. The Psalmist is inviting us to listen to the depths of our emotions. When we do, it ushers us into reality, and reality is often where we meet God and see others.

While connecting with my Latina sisters, we were invited to write our song and prayer of lament. Today, I want to share with you my prayer of lament. Putting my inner world on paper allowed me to be honest with myself and be vulnerable before God. This was an awakening and cleansing experience. I encourage you to cry out, to listen, and ask the question the Psalmist asked, “Why, oh soul, are you in despair?”

May you meet God in the realities we are living in today. I invite you to write your prayer of lament. May God grant you courage and peace as you write.

Walking by Faith Together,

Rev. Miriam Méndez
Executive Minister and Senior Regional Pastor