I am musing....
about a famous dream.
Oh this world we live in. How quickly we turned a corner. (albeit, one we have turned before).
After being inundated day after day with news and talk of Covid...our country and the news is now caught up with destruction, riots and unrest.
A black man was killed by a merciless cop. And anarchy was thrown into our country's pot...stirred by racial tension, unrest, anger and lack of constraint.
Wrong was committed. Yes, once again.
Our black fellow citizens come from, as they say in the adoption world...very "hard places."
Consider their roots, their legacy of slavery and oppression.
Our country was built in a large part on the shoulders of black slaves.
While the white population was able to take advantage of the great American dream...to enter the race for equity and business, to establish venture capital or join the quest west for land, gold and fortune, the black populace remained oppressed, uneducated and unable.
Yet, our white forefathers worked hard. They sacrificed. They left family and security to stake out their dreams. They met with hostility, hardship and in many cases death. Prosperity was not handed to them on a "white platter".
The capitalistic pursuits of our American past has proven successful in that when one works hard enough and smart enough...success can often be attained in amazing ways. Thus the beauty of our American representative democracy.
But in the wake of our national sin of slavery and racial abuse....lies a race that has been disabled and injured.
Even as those who are adopted, need to be treated with appropriate respect and understanding for their plight, for the situation and "the hard" that has wired their brain differently then those raised in a healthy environment....so we may need to be understanding of those who have found themselves oppressed generation after generation.
Just how though do we do that?
Not with hand outs. Not by throwing money at them. Not by excusing them or belittling them or feeling sorry for them. Not by making them a project. Not by condoning apathy or entitlement. And most definitely not by participating in or endorsing destruction, riots and violence.
But maybe, just maybe by dreaming.... with them. May WE have a dream. Let us join together and DREAM ALONG with Martin Luther King Jr. as we give ear and heed to the famous words that inspired a nation more then half a century ago. May we interact with our black fellow citizens with compassion, hope, encouragement and a sense of equality.
May the meaning of Martin Luther King's cry ring true, by the grace of God.
"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident; that ALL men are created equal."
"I have a dream that one day" (we) "will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood."
"I have a dream that little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
"I have a dream today."( Martin Luther King Jr. 1963)
May the many African Americans who have become successful in their own right, take it upon themselves to cheer on their black brothers and sisters, to inspire their youth, to share as they are led of the insights and benefits that they have been able to ascribe to and attain.
The beautiful words of that children's song resonates with my heart...."red and yellow black and white, they are precious in His sight"! So may we all repent of any racial injustice that dwells in our own hearts. May we as a nation repent of our sins of unkindness and racism. May we pray fervently. Even as the Scripture states...
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land. 2 Chron. 7:14
May we pray daily for our black fellow Americans. May we adopt them (should they desire) into our lives, communities and churches. May they adopt us as needs be.Yes, it is a time of deep reflection. A time for change. A time to encourage.
I honestly do not know exactly just how to bring about the reality of the change that is needed. The problem is complex, and deeply rooted. But I do know that it starts with turning it over to Jesus, of covering the situation and this hurting race with prayer. There has been many posts shared lately of individuals reaching out to others who may appear different then them. Getting to know them. Asking them questions. Showing concern. In so doing and as opportunities come our way....our understanding and empathy improves. We move from seeing each other out of the corner of our eye, to really "seeing them" with our hearts.
We know that only the Truth of Scripture and the love of Jesus can heal, truly heal. And it just may start with a dream!
Yes. May all Americans, "red, yellow, black and white" together exclaim..... "WE have a dream!"
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