The Journey

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I am amazed at the American People… how we think that our constitution gives us the right to hate other people… to hate them in such a fashion that we take the law into our own hands and not only protest… but protest with sticks and guns… showing up ready to do harm to those who oppose us. One would think that, after the light of truth was shown on the lynchings, killings and out-and-out hatred of the south in the early days of Jim Crow, we would have learned how to get along with one another. Seems to me that racism and hate is reproduced from generation to generation. If we don’t change inside now, our children are most likely to take upon themselves our own bigotry… perhaps in an even more aggressive manner.

So, what are we teaching our children about the love of neighbors… the acceptance of people of other faiths and races? Step back and take a look at your beliefs, jokes… what you consider important and what receives your blind eye. We are not only teaching them how to hate by our words, but also by what we don’t do, what we consider important and that which has no value. Back in the 30′ and 40’s black people were thought to not have souls… therefore they could be controlled and killed just like animals.

I was hoping that we would have learned by now that hatred of others… bigotry toward anyone was simply wrong. Many who are involved in this white supremacy garbage use religion as their basis for this action. I don’t know the faith they are talking about. It sure isn’t the Christian faith of the Christ of God who died on a cross for ALL PEOPLE. Somehow these people think Jesus’ words were only for white people. They still see Jesus portrayed as a blue-eyed white male. Sorry guys… you missed the boat on that one. Jesus was – to your surprise Jewish – middle eastern. His earthly mom and dad were Jewish. He went to a Jewish Synagogue or Temple to worship. I really wonder if these folks have ever really read the Bible, thought about the bible, spent time in meditation about the real, tough and compassionate words of Jesus? I don’t think they have. Maybe added a little proof-text to their reading – finding only that which could possibly (taken out of context) support their own bias.

I am proud of my kind – my brothers and sisters in the clergy who took to the streets of Charlottesville in a silent, peaceful protest of the hatred, violence, the killing and wounding that went on there. The sad part is those streets should have been filled with clergy folks… and millions of the laity. Folks we simply must take a stand which says this country is not a country that tolerates hate of any fashion from any one, any place, any organization. It will not be tolerated from the poor house to the white house. It is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!!! So let’s get on some praying shoes, some walking shoes, some Jesus sandals and let’s show the world BY OUR ACTIONS that hate will not win EVER!!! 

Our prayer has been not only the Lord’s prayer but the prayer of Saint Francis:

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master, grant that
I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.

Pray for those affected by the Charlottesville hate acts… and become people of peace where ever we go.

Grace and Peace

Steve

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