Fools...

"Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips.

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.

Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright." Proverbs 14:7-9

I had occasion to sit down with a man who represents the lost, who represents the police force in a small town...a man given to speaking much but listening little, a man given to denial, to sidestepping accountability.

Oh my friends, this...this is an example of the brokenness of the system...not only the justice system, no, much much worse...brokenness within a program meant to protect women and children, meant to uphold and support those running from abuse...

Each and every point was deflected, denied and run amok...I spoke from a place of knowledge, of knowing the right of it, the wrong of it all...I spoke with passion but with clarity and steel...

In a moment of dystopian chaos, an apology was given for that which he denied...and when stated that this was not an apology of any kind when based on denial and lack of accountability, I was scoffed at verbally...on each point the noise of disdain and mockery was given as though every word passing my lips were something to be laughed at, put in the dirt as nothing but refuse and garbage.

Oh my friends...where do women go when those in positions of power are given to slandering and defaming? Where do women and children go when those who are meant to help shame, blame and then as icing on the proverbial cake, defend the perpetrator?

Nowhere...that is where. And so, once again the system fails despite a supervisor sitting in the meeting. Adding to the denial with the statement that it seems to be a grey area as nothing was recorded...that it was too bad, despite the witness/es of two women in charge of the safe home society in my small village.

Deny...deny...deny...it is easier than reprimanding or letting go of said employee.

"Who will rise up fro me against the wicked?

Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?

Unless the Lord had given me help

I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.

When I said, 'My foot is slipping.'

your love, O Lord, supported me.

When anxiety was great within me,

your consolation brought joy to my soul."

Who will stand? Who will take a stand against evildoers when the law of the land slips, trips and knowingly falls and fails?

I believe it is time for women to stand together...for those who have been put upon, beat upon, sold into slavery, abused and tormented, tortured and debased, to stand as one.

I will fight alone until others come alongside...

Let us take up arms with wisdom, with foresight and fortitude to battle not only the uninformed, no for that is mere education, but to do battle with those who have stated they are standing in the gap for the lost. In point of fact they have grown lazy, corrupt, meat-in-the-seat, apathetic drones, looking past the suffering to their own ends.

I pray you hear my heart this morning as I toss up the detritus from a meeting gone wrong in so many ways I truly have no words to describe the fallout.

I pray for sight, for strength of heart...

I pray for truth to stand as a beacon amongst the darkness...

I pray for those lost and hoping to find help in a field full of disease and dissent.

May God go with you today and each day forward, lighting the way no matter the storms that rage above and round about you.

Worthy...each one worthy of grace, of support and compassion.

"Take heed, you senseless ones among the people;

you fools, when will you become wise?

Does He who implanted the ear not hear?

Does He who formed the eye not see?

Psalm 94:8-10

Take heed....