I don’t usually believe that social media is an ideal place for deep and painful conversations to happen.
That said, I do realize that my own ignorance has sometimes been part of the problem I seek to address, and that needs to be acknowledged. I spent years ignoring inherent bias because “I am not racist.” I have black friends. I have black children. I believe with every fiber of my being that inequality is wrong. I don’t believe racism truly grieved me until I watched it affect my friends and my children. And when we can’t change the way other people behave, we have to look inward and ask God how we need to change *ourselves*. Gracious friends have challenged and taught me. I have had the opportunity to learn, change and grow. I post resources here not to appear that I have anything to teach about fighting against racism, but to point toward things that have helped me learn and to seek out more. I want to be a better mother, a better friend, a better sister in Christ.
Unintentionally being part of the problem is still being part of the problem. But we have a great hope. The grace of Christ covers us, convicts us, and enables us to do better. And we have each other. Thank you for all the amazing comments on my other post! I hope they inspire us to learn and grow together. Until His Kingdom comes, on Earth as it is in Heaven.
As promised, I’ll link some of my favorite resources, as well as some of your suggestions in the comments.
I’ll leave you with the words to Andrew Peterson’s song that had me weeping during (home) church this morning: “Do you feel the world is broken?
(We do)
Do you feel the shadows deepen?
(We do)
But do you know that all the dark won’t stop the light from getting through?
(We do)
Do you wish that you could see it all made new?
(We do)
Is anyone worthy? Is anyone whole? Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll? The Lion of Judah! Who conquered the grave! He is David’s root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave!
From every people and tribe, from every nation and tongue, He has made us a kingdom and priests to God to reign with the Son.
Is He worthy? Is He worthy? Of all blessing and honor and glory? He is!
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say if the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.
Surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare, and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge.
His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. {psalm 91}
Lord, may it be.
#icantbreathe
So I’ve been sitting here for too many minutes, eyes filled with tears, unable to come up with anything to say that doesn’t feel trite or totally inadequate. And yet unable to say nothing. I can’t say nothing. I can’t possibly allow my children to grow up in a world where they might be valued differently because of the colors of their skin.
So here’s what we are going to do. Please leave comments with any great resources you are using to educate yourself on racism and to help combat it in your home, your community, your nation. I’ll compile my own too, and then we can learn and grow together.
I stuck this on my bathroom mirror nearly a year ago (at the time, it was the color of a green highlighter, but it has been rescued repeatedly from the sink). One emergency after another kept my husband and I, as well as several of our children, on different continents for the majority of 6 months, and I experienced fear and anxiety like I never have before. I needed to read, to believe these words like I needed oxygen. •
And even on days when the words didn’t seem true, I repeated them to myself, to Him, and sometimes into a seemingly empty silence. “Lord, you are trustworthy.” •
This little sticky note has now been up here for so long that I don’t really notice or read it any more. It has kind of just become part of the mirror. But occasionally it falls into the sink, and I plaster it back up there, soaking wet, because I can’t bring myself to throw it away. Occasionally it catches my eye while I’m brushing my teeth or putting on mascara and I pause, in awe of this truth that the world needs like oxygen right now. •
Friends, He is trustworthy. •
I hesitate to say that I am enjoying sheltering in place with my family. While I truly do love this slow and concentrated family time, we are keenly aware that this is not the reality of so many. So many of our friends and neighbors are suffering, unable to work or get the food that they need. So many people all over the world have lost loved ones, lost jobs, and been thrown into fear and anxiety like never before. So many health workers have risked their lives and been separated from their family members. Far beyond just terrible sickness, there is so much suffering and hurt all across the globe right now. I do not know why. I am so so sorry for those of you struggling, and so so grateful for all those doing their part to help alleviate the suffering of others. •
We don’t have answers, and we don’t know when it will end. But in the midst of it all, there is an unchanging Truth: Trustworthy God. •
I’ve known Him in the darkest nights, in the bleakest uncertainty. In loss, in doubt, in fear, in anxiety, He remains constant. We don’t know what He is doing, but we can trust Him. Lord, you are trustworthy.
