These past weeks we have seen waves of protests across the country in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, an African-American who died on May 25 during a police arrest in Minneapolis.
What happened to George Floyd is not new in the African-American community. It’s part of a long history of racism in our country. Theirs is the story of slavery, suffering and injustice.
What can we do as people of faith? We can’t act as if nothing happened or is taking place in our country. White, Black and Brown people are all calling for justice and change of policies that will benefit the African-American community.
Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” We can live out His teaching everyday—with everyone we meet regardless of race, culture, nationality, social class or gender. We can believe that we were all made in God’s image, not just some of us. And we can remember that love without justice always falls short. “We cannot pray in love and live in hate and still think we are worshipping God,” someone once wrote.
How about this. We can stand on the side of righteousness, goodness and hope. We can be agents of change in a broken and unjust world. We can walk along and stand with those whose backs are against the wall. We can speak up when we see wrong done against our brothers and sisters. We can listen to what others are saying and feeling, even when we don’t know what it is to walk in their shoes.
And for those times when we’re feeling overwhelmed and powerless, even despairing, we can remember these words from award-winning author, feminist and social justice activist, L.R. Knost:
Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break. And all things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention. So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you.
As people of faith, the light of God will lead us to righteousness. Now is the time to walk and act in that light.
