“In my own little corner, in my own little chair, I can be whatever I want to be.” That is the lyrics to an old song written by Richard Rodgers for the musical Cinderella. I must admit that with the things going on in the world today I can tend to want to simply sit in my own little corner of the world and if I didn’t watch the news (which I don’t to terribly much) I would have no idea what was going on in the world. I would not have a clue who George Floyd was or the hurt and the anger that people are feeling over his death. Anger and hurt that is driving some people to do things that are wrong as well. I could sit here in my little corner of the world and watch the sun come up and the sun go down and know that I am blessed but I could act as if none of the rest of it really matters. But it does matter. And what should my response be to it?
I must admit that sitting and writing anything this morning seemed well a bit daunting to me. But it felt wrong not to write and acknowledge it today. However, I ask you to realize I am no scholar and I am not an activist, I’ve said it many times before here, I am a simple minded woman. But I can’t ignore the hurt, my own humanity will not allow me to. First off we all must admit that racism does still exist. I have friends who have black sons that they have to teach how to handle situations differently than I have ever had to even consider for my white sons. I’m going to be real transparent here and admit that going to work in a public school 16 years ago was probably one of the best things that ever happened to me. When I look back at my life before walking into Ridgeland High School, it was very, well white. But working in a school and falling in love with students and co workers of color made me see color differently. I am sorry if that comes across as racist I truly do not mean for it to. I am just being honest in saying it opened my eyes and my heart in ways that I am not sure how that would have happened if God had not led me down that path. I’m truly grateful that He did.
Second police brutality does exist obviously, but not all police officers are bad. The ones I know personally are good, honorable men, who are doing right in a good and honorable profession. I have family members who are police officers and I have friends who are police officers. Some are white and some are black. I am proud of them and the professions they have chosen. I do not think it is any more right to lump all police officers than it is to lump all blacks in a “bad” category. People are good and people are bad it’s part of the fallen world we live in.
So what can we do? Well the passage that comes to mind is the one where Jesus called us to be salt and light of the world.
You are the salt of the heart, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matt. 5:13-16
As salt and light I do not believe we are called to ignore. So what will I do? I will pray for my friends who have black sons and daughters and their children. I will try to be more open to the plight of them in America. I will pray for the police officers who I believe are in the profession to be honorable and to treat others with respect. Our country was built on a foundation of innocent until proven guilty and that is what I will try in my heart of hearts to remember and to cling to. I will do my best to embrace diversity and color for the beauty that I believe was God’s intent when He created us all. I pray that these words are accepted with the intent that they were written and if I have offended anyone, please feel free to contact me. I truly want to have the conversation.
Please please please pray for our country today. Please pray that the violence ends and that people can be heard without burning businesses and churches. Let’s all just take a little time to listen to our fellow man today.
Restore 