Muted. Listening. Learning
That’s what I’ve been doing most of this week as we’ve watched the events happening in & outcry of our country.
I’ve wrestled deeply with how I may have been complicit with systems that elevate white supremacy & compounded the problem of systemic racism.
I’ve wrestled with the deeply rooted history of racism in America of which I am a citizen & more specifically in my beloved home of the south.
I have a lot to learn personally by listening & then ultimately, a lot to do. I think most of us are finding that in these days.
Some of us posted a black square & hashtagged blacklivesmatter on Tuesday out of sincerity & solidarity & that’s where our contribution & work started but now are unsure of where to go next.
Others may have posted that black square & then went dark on social media for a few days as we watched, reflected, listened & learned hoping that people wouldn’t think we didn’t care about the real issue of racism in our country because we weren’t constantly tweeting or reposting stories to instagram.
Some feel paralyzed, with a sincere heart & good intentions, we want to put in the work, fight for the cause of justice, but are afraid that we’ll offend even more that we already have or misstep with our actions or words and compound the agony already felt.
Your own work & individual pathway will look different. Lean into it, however that path winds & whatever that work looks like.
If you’re asking “now what?” I can’t answer that question for you & in many ways, feel like I’m right there with you asking that questions.
But Here are a few resources that can help you take the next step on this journey in dismantling a society & culture of inequality & injustice
Books
Movies
Verses to meditate on
In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” Galatians 3:26-28
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them. 1 John 2:9-11
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”Jesus replied: “‘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.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40
Photography by Jessica Harris
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