"we"

Last night I watched a video produced by the humanitarian agency MedAir which works in some of the most intense relief contexts in our world, establishing food distribution programs, collaborating with communities to create clean water sources, and rebuilding houses after natural disaster destroys whole communities. It doesn't matter how many times I see pictures of starving children wasting away, their gaunt faces haunt me and my heart is broken again. How is it possible that we allow children created in the image of God to endure such unimaginable horror?

In the background of the video, Israeli recording artist Noa's song "We" provoked a feeling of grief within me that our common humanity is lost on us much of the time, as we forget that, in her words,

"we’re born/we’re crying
we fall/we’re trying
we’re little/we’re laughing
we’re lonely sometimes

we grow/we’re open
we’re lost/we’re hoping
we’re careful/we’re calling
we’re leaving behind

you say we need to work together
with love and care for everyone
without the fighting and the anger
you say the world could be as one

but every time that you say we
do you think about me?
‘cause every time that you say we
i hope you think about me

we’re strong/we’re chosen
we’re scared/we’re frozen
we’re hardened/we’re hopeful
we’re holding at bay

we take/we’re giving
we shake/we’re living
we’re lovers/we’re sinners
we’re running away

and if we fail to make a difference
and if our hope is almost gone
despite the fighting and the anger
you say the world could be as one

but every time that you say we
do you think about me?
‘cause every time that you say we
i hope you think about me"

until then, there is no we.