Reflections from the Home Team - June 13, 2020

“Our attitudes are shaped in the home and as I have had the privilege of working with young people of all races, ethnicities and genders as a teacher, coach and principal over the past 40 years, that is certainly a fact that has stood out to me. Interestingly, as much as I agree that we as adults must take the time to help shape our young people, I have also been profoundly impacted by the young people in my life that I have had the opportunity to “grow up” with over my career in education and athletics. They have provided me some much-needed love, care, support and wisdom during the times I have faced not only the health challenges of cancer but also the tensions and challenges that I have faced in my work. Just as the two youngsters featured in the image above have used their “innocence” in viewing each other as best friends, it’s a prime example of how we should all view each other as loved regardless of the color of our skin.”

Greetings from Cedar Falls,

My heart was touched recently when I viewed the image above given the emotions I have experienced as I heard the words uttered by George Floyd as he gasped for his breath and called for his deceased mother with a knee on his neck. Just like the video of two men chasing down and shooting Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia while he was out running. It’s unfathomable that these things are happening in our country in 2020. As we’ve witnessed the response play out in cities across our nation, it makes it clear that we are in need of a wake-up call.  What we are witnessing in our country should be our jolt to stand for what’s right and denounce what is evil.

I recently read an article by Benjamin Watson, former NFL football player and author of the book Under Our Skin where he writes about his experience of having “The Talk” with his children in The Players’ Tribune: He shares:

“The Talk takes many shapes, but at its core it’s the conversation black parents must have with their kids about what it means to be black in America--both historically and right now… The most important part of the “Talk” is to teach our children to think of people as individuals. To see a white man, black man, policeman or any other citizen as humans that may look like others in ‘their’ group, but don’t necessarily act or think like them.”

“We need all families--white, black, whatever race--to have their version of The Talk, too,” Watson writes. “That’s what I’m hoping: that as I’m having The Talk with my daughters or sons, maybe there is a white dad across town talking to his son about race, too. Yes, the conversation will take a different form, but education always starts in the home. It starts with family. When families decide to teach their children and challenge themselves about difficult subjects like race, I believe that’s when you start to see hearts change.”

Benjamin is absolutely right.  Our attitudes are shaped in the home and as I have had the privilege of working with young people of all races, ethnicities and genders as a teacher, coach and principal over the past 40 years, that is certainly a fact that has stood out to me. Interestingly, as much as I agree with Benjamin that we as adults must take the time to help shape our young people, I have also been profoundly impacted by the young people in my life that I have had the opportunity to “grow up” with throughout my career in education and athletics. They have provided me some much-needed love, care, support and wisdom during the times I have faced not only the health challenges of cancer but also the tensions and challenges that I have faced in my work. Just as the two youngsters featured in the image above have used their “innocence” in viewing each other as best friends, it’s a prime example of how we should all view each other as loved regardless of the color of our skin.

I have to admit, it's hard to even know where to start when having the “Talk” that Benjamin Watson describes. It’s easy to post a Martin Luther King, Jr. quote on social media and let the world (or at least our small little slice of it) know where we stand on racial issues. It’s much harder to know how to represent Christ and follow the prophet Micah’s urging to “seek justice,” “love mercy,” and “walk humbly” (Micah 6:8) in real life.

In my own personal soul-searching, I feel there are a few things that as a Christian, I can and should be doing during our current racial conversations.

First, I feel we need to believe what the Bible says about race, and let our actions show we believe it.  The Bible is abundantly clear about race, from cover to cover. We see God’s creation of man in His image in the beginning, and we see the vision of every tribe, nation and tongue together in heaven in the book Revelation. In between, we have the words of Jesus, Peter, Paul and James:

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” Romans 12:9-10

“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:13

Reading these words is one thing. Understanding them and allowing them to guide our everyday life is another. If we believe we are all equal–and family–then it should change how we approach our current events.

Second, we need to pray for racial reconciliation, and pray that it will start with each of us as individuals. As Billy Graham once said, “Whether prayer changes our situation or not, one thing is certain: Prayer will change us!” We should pray for racial reconciliation in our country. As we do, we should be open to the Lord’s leading as He provides opportunities for our own repentance and growth. Christian rapper KB (yes there are Christian rappers) said “We must do more than pray but we can never do less than pray. Prayer is our first protest. Our most effective tool.”

Third, listen to and have empathy for what people are experiencing during these trying times, it’s easy to voice our opinions. And, from what I’ve read and heard, we have a lot of them… So, now is not the time to speak, it’s the time to listen. “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19). We need to use the opportunity in front of us to listen to others, while learning about them and their experiences.

There is no hierarchy of human beings demonstrated throughout Scripture. Jesus came so that all may be saved. God has always had open arms to the whole world. In Paul’s writings, we are challenged to consider how Jesus unites all of us as brothers and sisters, regardless of ethnicity or nation. As God loves all peoples, so should we. Remember, you and I can never be the kind of people God wants us to be on our own. We were never intended to do life that way. We all need people who are teaching us, sharing their lives with us, investing in us, and encouraging us to grow.

“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”

Proverbs 13:20

May we all walk together sharing our experiences with each other, investing in each other and encouraging each other as we grow in loving ALL our neighbors as ourselves.

Blessings to all in this time of challenge and potential growth!

Dave

                                                    

Are you or someone you know fighting cancer... struggling with the physical, emotional and spiritual issues that accompany a cancer journey or other serious health issue? Making ourselves available to others can open up the doors of opportunity for deeper relationships, healing, and transformation. For many, time is one of the most valuable commodities in today's fast-paced world. Sharing time with others is a wonderful gift. It says, "Here I am... for you. To listen, to care, to serve." The power of presence should never be underestimated!  

Be an encourager in someone else’s life!

To learn more about being an encourager, and to view the Reflections blog, visit the Reflections from the Home Team website at:

www.reflectionsfromthehometeam.com/