A Lament to Amen
November 23, 2008
“Do I hear an amen?” “Give me an Amen!” shouts the preacher. And I often wondered if this was an admission of insecurity. Once I heard this: “I am preaching better than you’re amening.”
Poor word, you don’t stand a chance! With friends like that, who needs enemies? A few more layers of bad use and meaning and you will be buried for good. Do you cry dear word?
Amen, in other places, you are just one of those functional words we drag kicking and screaming into its proper slot at the end of a prayer. “There, I finished my prayer properly.” Are you happy being used in this way, my word? Do you object? Do you wonder if you will ever come into your own?
Some composers have played on your inherent lyrical abilities. AAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaAAAAAAAAaaaaAAmen! You’ve been stretched on musical score sheets for pages on end. By the time the second measure drones on singers have already forgotten what you’re about. Stretched to the point of snapping. Toyed with until you’ve become a discarded rag doll.
Somehow, against all odds, you have survived. Victim of abuse, you have remained strong. Today I want to respect and honor you. I offer you an ode. Be honored my word by being a God-chosen word teaching us to agree that God is faithful. Faithful is your name, faithful you remain. Hats off.
Resolution in honor of Amen: I resolve that every time I encounter you in the written pages of Scripture and in other writings, to honor you by lingering with good thoughts. I resolve every time I see you in Celtic Daily Prayer, and I will see you often, to salute you and welcome you as a reminder from God that I too am called to remain faithful to my call as you have remained faithful to your call in the midst of a trying life. Amen! So help me God.
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