My wife asked me a great question yesterday: Where are the wailers-those called to openly grieve? And is there ritual room for them in this society? Not protestors but public lamentor’s like Jeremiah? To publically grieve is an act of service and healing (thinking of this today on Veteran’s day in this country).

The late priest Henri Nouwen said to mourn until you sense the kingdom is right at your fingertips.

 Thinking of the role of lamentation in healing people and societies. Isn’t it a sign of health when we openly mourn well together?! To mend divisions, we must wail well at certain times. “Humble ourselves together into the heart of God.”

 Reading the book of lamentations today. The book of lamentations is not a protest song, it is a song of grief. There is a time to protest, and a time to grieve. Lamentations, a poetic lament, was one of those moments when public grief was needed—that type which leads to repentance, and true change of heart. Lamentations is an expression of the heart of God.

 It has been said that the book of Ecclesiastes is a critic of what humanity looks like apart from God. But Lamentations is more how it feels for God the way it is. It expresses the heart of God. It is fellowship with His Suffering! Thinking today of the proper role of grieving in our lives and societies. Wailer may not be a great job title, and probably doesn’t pay well, yet, it’s needed now.

 “It’s easier to critique and protest, than to grieve, to dissect than to care for from the heart of God.” But that type of care, and willingness to wail with others, ends up having more authority to change things.

And Lamentations, interestingly, doesn’t lead to cynicism or bitterness, but into Hope. That’s where you want to head, and maybe good grieving is the path there. So, Wail on—howl-whoever is called to do so! We need it now globally.

The earth also is groaning (Romans 8:22-the basis of Christian ecology), perhaps we need some folks called forth to groan along! The global poetic grievers and sustainers are needed now, alongside the peace makers.

Where are those who are wailing? Prayer closets perhaps; but Jeremiah went public on his grief! He didn’t care what people thought about it either. Great question, anyway! Wail well, my friends!