I wish every church that believes the Bible is true and preaches Jesus was filled to the rim.
They aren’t.

I wish that when non-Christian people thought of Christians people they’d have nice, happy thoughts.
They don’t always.

I wish everyone who attended church before covid still attended church.
They don’t.

I wish people were nicer to those who have different political views.
They aren’t.

I wish gay people felt welcome to attend church.
They don’t in a lot of places.

I wish people didn’t get hurt in church.
Some do.

I wish anonymous letters that pastors receive contained the coward authors’ names.
They don’t.

I wish church leaders would lead in a “Jesus first” manner and not a “money first” manner.
They don’t always.

I wish kids didn’t have to worry that a shooter will come into their school.
They do.

I wish every pastor felt appreciated by his/her congregation.
Not all do.

I wish every teenager felt like adults understood what it’s like to be a teenager in 2022.
They don’t a lot of the time.

I wish Christians didn’t try to tackle nonexistent “boogeymen,” but instead went after the things Jesus said to tackle (feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty, help the sick, and visit the prisoner).
Some do, a lot don’t. 

I wish black people and white people could turn Dr. King’s Dream into a reality. 
Sometimes it seems we are years and years away from that happening.

I wish all the hungry people in our country had food.
They don’t.

I wish all innocent prisoners in jail were discovered to be not guilty of the crimes for which they are imprisoned.
They aren’t.

I wish there was no such thing as pornography.
There is.

I wish there were no rogue police officers, crooked judges or phony preachers for that matter.
There are a few.

I wish every lonely widow or widower had a friend to call when needed.
Many don’t.

I wish every child in the foster care system had a forever home.
They don’t.

I wish White Supremacists realized how stupid white supremacy is.
They don’t.

I wish. 
I wish. 
I wish.
I could go on and on.

Maybe I need to stop wishing and wishing and start praying and praying. Then maybe I should work to see those prayers become reality. 

Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.  James 2:15-17