this life… it's not about me.

I remember sitting in my middle school classroom learning about slavery. I recall the stories of how black people were treated (during slavery and after) and seeing images that will forever be etched in my mind… images that made me feel sick to my stomach. I don’t, however, recall having discussions about these things or processing through the feelings. We just learned some facts about things that had happened in history.

For the past few weeks, I have been recalling my education… both in school and in my childhood home because of all the things unfolding here in the Twin Cities and around the world. I have remained incredibly quiet — processing things I have never processed as well as listening and reading and learning more about the racial tension happening around the world.

As I watch and listen to the responses to what happened to George Floyd, it seems there are so many emotions… so many opinions… so much division. We hear that “black lives matter… cops lives matter… all lives matter.” Some are saying white “privileged” people don’t have the right to speak right now… while others say white silence is violence. Some people want to talk about it… others are tired of talking about it. Media seems to tell different stories and social media is giving people a voice to say anything, and we see posts and pictures and videos representing strong beliefs. Companies are taking strong stands. People seem to be all over the map in what they believe and how they speak out.

All of this has left me feeling a little paralyzed - so I have just watched from a distance, trying to make sense of it. And what I keep coming back to is… be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. (James 1:9)

As a Christian, I believe our only response is to imitate Christ and walk in love (Ephesians 5:1-2). We need to start by doing just what He did… spending time our Heavenly Father. We need to go to God in prayer… praising Him, repenting, and asking Him to guide and direct us. We need to remember that when Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was he answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:36-40)

Interesting thing in that command. I never read about myself - aside from the fact I am called to love. I think too many times I want to talk about how this is affecting me.

But the bottom line is… this life isn’t about me. It is about God. It starts with Him. John 15:5 says apart from Him, we can’t do anything. I need to fix my eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2) before I can do anything else.

When we take seriously the call on our lives to love Him and love our neighbor and when we seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly (Micah 6:8b), I believe things will start to look different.

As we jump on social media or head out and encounter people, let’s remember… everyone has a story. There are so many things that shape people - their past and upbringing, their culture and circumstances… where they live, what they have experienced. Let’s be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry and seek to understand those who are put in our paths. Let’s love God and love others. Let’s seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.