Dear friend,
As I have been processing the last week in our country, I had some thoughts on my heart that I wanted to share with you.
When I was young there was an unspoken rule that you don’t talk about politics or religion. Those are private matters. I’m not sure where I caught that belief, but it seemed to avoid a lot of arguments and confrontations. I went to high school with one African American young man. He played football and his name was Willie. That is all I can remember about him. Not because anything was forbidden, it was just the flow of life among self-absorbed teenagers. Then came college and I began to be acquainted with other races. Honestly, I haven’t had a great deal of interaction with people who I knew to be racist. My silence was because I didn’t know I had anything to add to the conversation.
In light of recent events I have once again tried to ponder if there is anything I can say. So, here are just some thoughts.
- Racism is wrong and against everything that I as a Christian believe in.
- I can not fully understand the anger that fuels the protests and disorder. I do, however, try to see that perspective. I also see how the riots are negatively impacting communities long term.
- We protest and write and scream to be heard but by whom? Most, not all, of those we are screaming at agree with us. We make more speeches, denounce and make more laws… yet racism goes on.
- Beyond addressing the spiritual root, what can people actually do to change people’s thoughts and attitudes?
Ahmaud Arbery was killed while going for a run in his neighborhood. The men who shot and killed him saw that he was black and believed that he was the same person who was responsible for the neighborhood break-ins. I wonder if the men who killed Ahmaud Arbery knew they had hatred in their hearts? I wonder if the men who killed Ahmaud Arbery knew they had that much fear in their hearts? I wonder if they had ever sat on the porch or lawn and talked with their neighbors about matters such as this? Then again, maybe they believed it was on the list of things you don’t talk about because they are too personal.
I wonder if we knew or suspected prejudice in the beliefs of our neighbors, friends, co-workers, church members, teachers would we have been willing to initiate conversation with them. Maybe, we just ignored it because we thought it was none of our business.
I wonder if the people we are screaming at and crying out to are people like us. I wonder if we are ignoring the silent ones. If we are ignoring the ones who have hate and anger in their hearts, perpetuated through upbringing and societal training causing them to hate those who are of a different race. I wonder if we are ignoring them because we are too afraid to find out what the people in our spheres actually believe.
It’s time to have the conversations in our homes, workplaces, churches, sports teams and schools. I feel certain there are officers who suspected the policemen who killed George Floyd were full of hatred. I wonder if they had a place where they could speak up without being afraid for themselves. Did they think it was just not that big of deal or none of their business?
I can’t answer that, but I can say we have to become willing to risk our jobs, our reputations, our “whatever” and address the topics that matter. We must stop teaching that we avoid topics like religion, politics or RACISM because it is too personal. We must learn again how to have a meaningful discussion, even with those who totally disagree with us.
Perhaps, if we had experienced having honest, yet honoring conversations about our beliefs, it would be easier to have those now. Perhaps, if we spoke up when we know someone is experiencing taunts, or threats we could begin to make a difference. I read on social media where men are being challenged in the workplace because they are black. Surely, there is someone in that sphere who could speak up on their behalf.
It’s time for all of us to listen, to speak up, to defend, to love those who are being mistreated. My conversation with someone can begin to make a difference. Your conversation with someone can begin to make a difference. Let’s find our voice and use it to reach the silent ones.
How can they know the Love of God for all men unless they first hear. Don’t assume everyone has truly heard.
Pat
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