I woke up staggering and dizzy early this morning. A fair mirror of the confusion and insanity this last week has brought. A single murderous act was multiplied into multiple murders, assault, arson, and countless acts of vandalism and terror. This is not new!
The Biblical Jacob had a daughter named Dinah. A local ruler’s son, a man of another faith, was attracted to her and took her without permission and marriage. Dinah’s brothers were furious! When the ruler came, asking for mercy and understanding, he promised any gift they asked, if only his son could have Dinah in marriage. The brothers stated that she could not be married to an uncircumcised man. They asked that all the men of the small city be circumcised. While the men were recovering from this painful experience, Dinah’s brothers entered the city, murdered all the men, took their sister back, and then looted the city, taking possessions, animals, and women. Jacob had to move his entire family, belongings and business to another region to escape the ruined relationships and hate.
Does this sound familiar? A single criminal act. A reaction cloaked in righteous indignation that was several orders of magnitude beyond the original act. A poisoning of relationships that will not disappear any time soon.
Across our country, we have worked to devise boxes and stereotypes and this has done nothing but create lines and division. So many negative stereotypes… cops are corrupt, blacks are violent, whites are evil. Maybe, just maybe the truth is that we ALL are evil and violent and corrupt. We all bleed and heal the same.
What matters most?
We focus on black lives, blue lives… fine, but please don’t use this focus to further divide us!
We refer to people of color, either with concern or prejudice. Remember that we are ALL people of color! Some darker, some lighter, all valuable and special.
We treat those who have committed crimes as second class citizens, thinking that their errors define them completely, forgetting that we all are guilty.
We scream and shout things like privilege and prejudice and brutality, using them to classify arbitrary groups of us.
Is it okay to pay extra attention to an individual or group that are hurting? Of course! Is it okay to pay that attention to such an extreme that it hurts others? Think about it.
Do we excuse or condemn others because of race or circumstance instead of seeing and defining evil and good no matter the source or cause? Read that again.
Do our words and actions bring unity or division? Do they promote hate or love? Do they bring us together or drive us further apart?
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. -Romans 12:17-21 (NIV).
As we end this week and prepare for the next, I challenge you to think about what matters most. I suggest that we hold each other accountable, all of us, to do good, not evil. I ask that we examine our voice and volume and action, channeling them in ways that bring not only justice, but peace and community, kindness and compassion. What matters most? No matter your color or language or background…. What matters most? You… and you…. and you… and….