I with the rest of America was broken watching George Floyd beg for breath in his last moments. I heard the anger, the protests, the pain. I can’t write. I can’t think clearly. I unplugged from social media after a former student hurled racism at me for not posting sooner; I was stunned. I turned off the news when the “spin” became louder than the situation. I am a child of the integration years in Little Rock. Busing, segregation, and civil rights were the mode of the day. As a daughter of the South, I have always had African Americans in my life. They are a rich fabric of who I am today. We raised our children without prejudice, I pray. Our youngest daughter is African American and yes, she was called the N-word at various times. Several boys were not allowed to date her because of her race. It’s heartbreaking and unfair. I have amazing law enforcement friends and I worry about their safety being lumped in with the outliers. It scares me for them. My thoughts are just running amuck in my head. Have I contributed in some way? Can my African American friends and students see Jesus in me? I am trying my best to understand.
My neighbor has two wonderful African American teenage boys. I ran out to retrieve my dog a few minutes ago. She was trying to follow them on their jog. I awkwardly snatched her up and blabbered, “Watch out for snakes. I saw one today in the back. Love y’all”. They looked at me oddly, laughed, and said “thanks”. Just a 59-year-old white lady trying to make up for the sins of society. I can imagine what they tell their mom when they get home.
I want to just leave with two African American voices that have strengthened my walk with God. Keep serving and loving and praying! Maranatha! Jayme
“Only God’s presence can change people’s lives.” Priscilla Shirer
“The problem of race is deep and wide and requires seismic change. But if we look to the government to solve it, we might as well feel hopeless. If we look at corporate America to solve it, we’ll be awaiting for a long, long time. And if we agree with Ta-Nehisi Coates, who tentatively suggests that “the only work that will matter, will be the work done by us,” then we will truly despair, for we know how well that has worked. If we follow that track, we’ll quickly add in disbelief, as he did, “Or perhaps not.”
As I’ve said, the problem of race is not “out there.” It’s “in here,” in the human heart. And though there is no task in heaven or on earth more difficult than changing the human heart, I believe in the one who can do it. It requires a supernatural solution.
“Yes, I believe in God. You see, I know how God can change a person’s heart.”
― Benjamin Watson
