Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

The most important question I have asked myself in these last few weeks is what message God is trying to send to us in all of this we are facing?

I ask this question because I try to make Christianity the most important thing in my life. Although I often fall short, Christianity has given me principles by which I have chosen to live my life. I understand and accept that all people are not Christians (even if this is something that they proclaim). I accept that we all have a choice to believe what we chose. What I have seen and experienced is that all people want to be seen and heard, and want to have the right to live freely in peace as they chose.

We have been given time, amid a worldwide health pandemic, to be still and all come to terms with who we are, what we believe, and how we want to live our lives. There have been countless defining moments like this in our history. I have heard many elders who lived through them question what we have to show for them.

The afflictions we are facing aren’t singular to one type of person. Even if you do not believe in God, one has to question why this unrest and discomfort are happening now. I believe it is time for us all to look into ourselves and show more love to one another. We can use race and color to divide us, or we can use this discussion around race to move us forward in taking ownership of our shortcomings, try to right wrongs, and become a true reflection of love. Or, we can ignore the hurt of our neighbors and ignore the needs of others. Either way, the choice is ours.

Addressing the overt racism in the US criminal justice system is only the appetizer on the table. There are many injustices that need to be addressed, and it can never be done with just one seat at the table willing to confront it. And it’s not the tastiest meal one can eat it either. But there are people elsewhere starving, wishing for our scraps.