lamenting

On Tuesday night one of our Sari Bari sisters was murdered by a customer. The injustice and overwhelming sadness of our loss has left our community in a state of shock. We are full of lament and brokenness as we seek to gain a handle on the last few days...I find myself whispering often for some sense of peace...and rest for all of our minds...
We were preparing to throw her 1st blanket party...a Sari Bari tradition commemorating our trainees first 3 months...where they receive the first blanket they sewed. Tuesday she barely spoke a word to anyone, working diligently to get her blanket finished by the party...she sewed more on Tuesday than she ever had before...don't worry she said, i'll have it done by the party...
As they walked her body through the community tonight, her blanket draped over her as a reminder to us all...our Sari Bari family covered her...
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Beloved. What you could only believe dimly…barely…in the face of a shadow…now you see fully. Life and light and deep love…

Beloved. What you left behind, at the hand of violence…what suffering tried to chase you down…holds no sway…at the hand of love…

Beloved. What a great crowd of witnesses, a family stitched together…remembering your steps, recollections of perseverance in the face of strife…testimony of a great love…a family you left behind will not quickly nor easily forget…the hands that stitched…your blanket was finished just in time…

Beloved. We lament. Stand beside you. Remember you. Cry for your injustice. Cry for loss. Cry…

Beloved.

May God show great mercy and offer us all his peace.

And now, beloved taste and see…

Amen.