The long, tedious work of love in the ordinary is what the work of justice most needs.  So said another old friend, Gary Haugen, who spoke this morning.  His talk opened by reflecting on the problem that remains:  27 million people in slavery…more than New York, more than LA, enough to fill a football stadium 270 times.

So he leads the group in prayer, “Let’s ask the God of Justice to give us a word now, for us.”

In light of the remarkable way that God has put his heart for justice back on the heart of his church, the question is “God, how can I serve your people who are showing up to work for justice?”  The answer is, “We can help prepare God’s people with perseverance for the struggle for justice which will last a lifetime… This is a marathon rather than a sprint.”

We prepare people to persevere in LOVE, and to love in the ordinary with a love that conquers monotony.  This is the long obedience in the same direction that is required in the long work of justice.

And then Gary went on to tell some stories, long and tedious (by his own description), about the work of justice that is actually the work of love, and that it takes a very long time, and is a marathon to tedium. As is always the case listening to him, his talk was over far too soon.

But before he ended, he dropped this bomb:  “The one thing that is needed in the long work for justice is the one thing that is most neglected:  Prayer.”