In 1964, Kitty Genovese was murdered in New York City. She was stabbed and raped on her doorstep. A neighbor, Karl Ross, heard noises and cracked his door to see what was happening. He promptly shut the door and called a friend to ask what he should do. The friend told him to not get involved. Eventually Mr. Ross climbed out of his apartment window and went to his friends home. It was there he finally called the police. When questioned later Ross told the investigators “I didn’t want to get involved”.<\/p>\n
“I didn’t want to get involved”<\/strong><\/p>\n I’ve often wondered how Hitler came to power…how the Salem Witch Trials were allowed to proceed…how the “Red Scare” between 1947-57 influenced seemingly normal people to begin seeing their friends as Communists. I wonder why we accept the “okayness” of watching goal posts being torn down and fields being destroyed at sporting events or cars and stores being vandalized after a victory.<\/p>\n Our older son once said, “Mom, you just don’t understand. When groups and people gather and things are loud and there’s so much going on around you, you just become ‘one of them’. You really don’t even know what you’re doing anymore.” We look at these events from the outside and shake our heads and think…”I can’t believe they are acting that way”…and say nothing. The silence is deafening.<\/em><\/p>\n I used to wonder how the internet gained such control over our thoughts and beliefs. I used to wonder why we feel so uncomfortable calling out mean-spirited, damaging and quite honestly, sinful behavior on social media. I used to wonder a lot of things but it all comes down to this statement…”I don’t want to get involved”. Whether it is a mob swaying our actions or simply being afraid of being singled out…we make a choice to say or do nothing.<\/p>\n We make a choice to be silent in the midst of all the noise and chaos. Or, we make a choice to go along as a silent watcher in our safe cocoon. And we all lose.<\/p>\n I have cried literal tears over this blog. Many of the words that are being written are hard for me. Confrontation is something I truly try to stay away from. By nature I am passive aggressive but try really hard to keep it at bay. Right now however, it seems the aggressive side is coming out more. Maybe it’s an age thing or maturity or possibly a bit of wisdom gained in the last sixty years, but this heart is breaking over the silence of so many. Or perhaps I have finally heard my own silence and IT is deafening.<\/p>\n Mr. Ross cracked a door open to a brutal sight and called his neighbor, not the police, to see what his next step should be…and that step was silence. He could have screamed for help immediately or he could have chosen to call the police and Miss Genovese may have lived. He chose silence.<\/p>\n Our nation is struggling, that is not disputable, the door has not only been cracked it has been thrown open. Many think the answer to our struggles is disputable. There are those who believe we must tear everything down to the studs and start over. Others will say we must leave everything in place in order to learn from our history. Some are using this strife for political gain and others are using it for personal enrichment. There are some who are using it as an excuse to get rid of anger and frustration and others who see real hope in peaceful protests and honest conversation. Then…there are those who sit by silently saying “I don’t want to be involved”.<\/p>\n The answer however is found in one word. God. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n We do not have the luxury of silence. We must search for answers together. We must go to God for wisdom and guidance to help us through these turbulent times. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5<\/em><\/p>\n As Christians, each one of us must say, “I WANT to be involved”. How can I help? How can I stand by you? How can I lift you up? How can I support you? What do you need me to know? What have you experienced that I cannot understand? Please…explain it to me. I do not care about your race, ethnicity or social class. I care about you. I care about your soul. When EVERY one of us clearly see each other through the eyes of Christ…THAT is the moment our world will change.<\/p>\n Questions need to be asked. Not just any questions but…deep, probing, intimate questions that are asked and answered with open and sincere hearts. Questions that will lead us to a deeper understanding of one another. Questions that allow us to have conversations that bring closure, give peace and pave the way for a future where we are working side by side for a common goal. A goal of standing together…as one…loving, protecting and caring for one another.<\/p>\n We must make the decision to take a stand and say “I will be involved”.<\/p>\n We must choose to stand together or the noise and chaos will win.<\/p>\n When Mr. Ross finally took a stand it was too late.<\/p>\n A better choice is waiting…<\/p>\n Listen to His Voice,<\/p>\n Lee Ann<\/p>\n Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Peter 4:8<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In 1964, Kitty Genovese was murdered in New York City. She was stabbed and raped on her doorstep. A neighbor, Karl Ross, heard noises and cracked his door to see what was happening. He promptly shut the door and called a friend to ask what he should do. The friend told him to not get involved. Eventually Mr. Ross climbed out of his apartment window and went to his friends home. It was there he finally called the police. When questioned later Ross told the investigators “I didn’t want to get involved”. “I didn’t want to get involved” I’ve often wondered how Hitler came to power…how the Salem Witch Trials were allowed to proceed…how the “Red Scare” between 1947-57 influenced seemingly normal people to begin seeing their friends as Communists. I wonder why we accept the “okayness” of watching goal posts being torn down and fields being destroyed at sporting events or cars and stores being vandalized after a victory. Our older son once said, “Mom, you just don’t understand. When groups and people gather and things are loud and there’s so much going on around you, you just become ‘one of them’. 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