live and let live 129/366

written because I have children who have children who will have children...

affected by recent news 

my heart is heavy

my soul is sad

another young man is dead
needlessly
senselessly killed
and it makes me 
angry that life is so devalued
tired of the ugliness of sin 
frustrated that I can't make it all better
embarrassed to share skin color with the perpetrators
fearful, because it could have been one of my sons

I have hesitated to write because 
in many ways I am on the outside looking in
I haven't live oppressed in any real way
and the devil wants me to believe
"one person cannot make a difference"
and "you have no voice in this"
I'd like to prove him wrong
because I do have a voice and I have a burden
and being silent is not a viable option

I grieve knowing people live in justified concern/fear
for themselves and for those they love 
who have to teach their sons and daughters how to live by unwritten rules,
rules that don't apply if you fit the "right" profile
rules I did not have to teach my birthed children when they were growing up
rules I didn't realize were still enforced 
until I began having heart birthed children

I'd like to say that America is a safe place for all of its citizens, 
but it isn't and wishing it was so
or turning a blind eye to evidence that proves it isn't
won't make that reality go away
people should not die because of
the color of their skin 
or their religious beliefs
or their sexual preferences
or their ethnicity
or their nationality
or for anything else that makes them different from "us"-whoever us is

Jesus followers, we should be leading the way in making things right
How? begin by praying for God to open your eyes to your own prejudice
(we all have at least one)
ask Him to heal and cleanse and change your heart and mind
ask Him to open your eyes to opportunities to make a positive difference
ask Him for courage and strength to follow through on those open doors
because we are our brothers (and sisters) keepers

if we learn to celebrate and integrate, 
or at the least accept, our differences
rather than fearing them
and allowing the devil to use them to separate and divide us,
all of our lives will benefit

if you are in a position to help someone-
help them
if you are in a position to defend someone-
defend them
if you are a position to protect someone-
protect them
if you are in a position to befriend someone-
befriend them
if you are in a position to speak up and make a positive change- 
speak up
be part of making the world a better place

I agree with what I have heard said so concisely-
if you don't believe this is real and an issue
you are part of the problem