Since it's been a little over three months, I've had plenty of time to think about this post. In fact I had one of the best pieces I've ever written ready to go. Then....He did that thing He does. What can I do but be obedient? Amen. I've "bumped" my head enough to know obedience is better than sacrifice. So this piece is about just what you think it's about, the things going on in America today. More specifically two verdicts that have this country on the edge of an all out revolt.
As a youth I dreamed for these days. I couldn't wait until the social consciousness of America finally caught up with my revolutionary spirit. I vowed I would be out front,
"down for whatever", loud so all the world could see. Maybe it was because I read "Roots" by Alex Haley in it's entirety as a 5th grader, then the following year "The Autobiography of Malcolm X". Could have been those "Stone Soul Picnics" where I met all those beautiful sisters and brothers who told me I wasn't anyone's "N" word. Good chance that first "Final Call" set my blood to boiling. Not sure if it's not just something in my soul because the spirits of the ancestors speak to me. Or maybe everybody is right, I suffer from that ol' affliction A.B.M.S (angry black man syndrome). Either way, that's not even important.
Let me just say what's on my heart. What we're going through right now is not a race issue. Now, that's not to say there are not race issues. FAR be it from me to say there are no race issues. What we're dealing with is a grace issue. What we're dealing with is a lack of compassion, a lack of understanding, a lack of care for one another. The word ignorance is defined as; "lack of knowledge or information". Some synonyms are: "incomprehension of, unawareness of, unfamiliarity with, inexperience with, lack of knowledge about, lack of information about, cluelessness about." Google it yourself family.
When we actually begin to look at ignorance for what it is, it should compel us to educate. It should lead us to do everything in our power to dispel whatever is causing the ignorance. Amen? Yet we do the exact opposite. Ignorance causes us to be angry, spiteful, and hateful. How ignorant is that?
It's evident that there is a need for social change in this country, yet most people don't even understand the concept of social change. Everyone is screaming revolution, yet most people don't even know what revolution means. True social change comes through evolution people. Evolution of errors in our thinking patterns and habits. Most importantly through evolution of our souls. We must evolve beyond our simple human understanding to a deeper level of spiritual understanding. All of these "ism's" are weapons of the enemy. ALL of them. You can't defeat the enemy using his weapons; you've got to use weapons he is unfamiliar with, that he doesn't have access to, and that are more powerful than the one's he has. Amen?
The greatest "social change" the world has ever known was led by a guy named Yeshua. You probably are more familiar with Him as Jesus. He dealt with "ism's", the unjust treatment of His people, the ignorance of His own people, and the ignorance of the perceived oppressor. Ask yourself, "Is this not what I myself am dealing with today?" He got angry, He spoke out, and He was willing to die to bring about change.
Yet I don't recall hearing about any riots He ever caused in Jerusalem. I don't recall Him hating anyone for their ignorance. I do recall He did the exact opposite of what humanity tells us to. He educated the ignorant, not just through words.....through His actions. He sought to understand people from their station in life. He constantly sought out those whom the world vilified.
I'm going to leave you all with a verse to meditate on as always. Please don't just read the verse, read the verses prior to it and following it. It's important you understand the context of it. All of us our guilty of being ignorant of things right in our face. I know I am. Ask the guy over in Iraq who just got a "Dear John" letter. Ask the father of 3, who works hard everyday, who just got laid off. Ask the devoted wife who just got the news from her doctor she's contracted an illness from her husband. Ask the mother and father who's child just killed some people, then killed themselves. Got your attention? I'm sure if you look over your life you'll find instances where you've been in the same position. Don't hate people for ignorance, empathize and educate them.
The verse for today is: "He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked" (1John 2:6) Look where hate has gotten us, look at the fruit. Let's try some love, some grace, some mercy. They are the greatest healers I know. I'll holla next week......
Be Blessed Be Faithful