Joshua 1:9 NRSV “I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you.”
How are you my brothers and sisters? Oooooweee! As I sit in the still, quiet of the evening, the tears are rolling gently down my cheeks. It is getting more difficult to mask the pain and suffering which is going on in our community, the nation and the world! I sit in anticipation of the verdict from the officer on trial for the death of George Floyd….9 minutes and 26 seconds the world saw! When you think it cannot get any worse, it just continues…the hate, the violence, the injustices, the elimination of basic needs, services, and rights such as voting rights, access to education and healthcare, and the list goes on! THE GUN VIOLENCE AND KILLING MUST STOP AND STOP NOW! When did we get to the point that life is not a precious gift from God? When do value life? Say their names…Adam Toledo and Daunte Wright and all those whose lives were cut short! When do we put down the weapons and start talking and loving each other? We must stand together and support each other! On Facebook recently, I shared this: “If you have a Black friend, and you don’t understand their pain right now, you don’t have a Black friend, you simply know a Black person.” Profound and so true especially in these times in which we are living! There are so many people out here that don’t get it either by choice or they are not willing to do the work because it is so much easier to live in their privilege! I’m still not good! Actually, I continue to be enraged! Why is that? It is just too much, too much!
I find myself struggling to understand what has brought us here! I do believe God is a loving, merciful, and gracious God and our faith in HIM and prayer will see us through! I say it will! There is so much fear and anxiety which surrounds us along with issues not yet seen in their full proportion such as mental health issues! We are hurting! We will have moments of anger! Just hold on! We must keep moving forward as we work to remove hatred and work toward peace to reconcile what has happened over the last 400 years or yesterday for that matter!
As you know this is #StuffValSaid, but what do you say? What are you going to do to bring peace to your community? How will your faith move you to action? What are you doing to eliminate racism and other isms in your community...in your sphere of influence? Are you using your voice for sustainable, lasting change?
Let us find peace in Psalm 13 NRSV which a prayer for deliverance from enemies. To the leader. A Psalm of David “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I bear pain in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all day long? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O Lord my God! Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, and my enemy will say, “I have prevailed”; my foes will rejoice because I am shaken. But I trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.”
As said in Swahili, Ashay…” Be with us!!!” I love and honor you!!!
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