June 15th, 2020: How to Define Our Security?
I have decided to stay away from politics and political
conversations in recent months. I have also declined a couple of invites
to run for office since 2020. So what I am about to share with you is
not a political position, but the position of a pastor who has been
trying to address the issues of the day as I have a deep concern for
where we are going as a nation.
I understand
where BLM folks are trying to achieve. The only issue that I have not
heard any of the leaders talks about is the importance of family and how
family plays a role in preparing our youth for the challenges of our
society. My experience in my work tells me that the breaking down of our
family structure is the foundation for many other issues. Talking about
racism independently from poverty, lack of education, commitment to
self-respect, the value of hard work, healthcare, and many others is
futile.
Calling for the damnation of our police
force and saying that there is systemic racism within the police forces
across the land is not that helpful. It is like saying that there is a
systemic criminal tendency in some racial group. Racism is not the only
sin that humanity has committed to one another. We have done many other
things to degrade one another. Starvation, homelessness, child abuse,
sex trade, abuse of power...many people have died and many others have
suffered severely because of these conditions that humanity has created
for itself. It is not that hard to feel discriminated against when one
is poor and has no education. It is hard not to feel like a rag when one
has been used for sexual pleasure by others. It is hard not to feel
rejected when one is abandoned by one's parents, it is hard not to be in
despair when one has no roof over one's head.
Regardless
of the colour of our skin, let us aim to regain the security and the
health of the family structure. Let us aim to build a society with
families that are committed to love their kids and to raise them with
healthy respect for themselves and others. Let us pray that many kids
will not see the walls of a prison cell before they see the walls of
their bedroom. Let us pray that many will learn how to read and write
before talking about they have the right to steal from others. Let us
pray that we can raise our kids with hope so that they don't need to see
themselves as victims of their circumstances. Let us pray that our kids
will be able to stand up to injustice without having excuses to destroy
others.
I recently visited a fellow who I met
more than 20 years ago. I was interviewing him for a job at a furniture
manufacturing plant. He just finished high school. I was surprised that
he didn't apply for college although his highs school mark average was
about 90%. So I asked why? He told me that his mother had never worked
and had been on welfare all her life. He didn't want that life and
wanted to start working full-time as soon as he finished high school. I
hired him with a condition that he would continue with his education at
night. To make a long story short, he did and graduated from a local
college with a degree in structural design about 6 years later. He is
now a design manager for another business production facility. He is
married and has 4 kids. My relationship with him not always easy in the
first ten years. He sometimes pushed back but sought help at the same
time. We are now just two men who meet for a coffee and talk about
things we have learned, our hope and dreams for our kids and maybe grand
kids. One of his kids wants to start an embroidery business so he
bought her a very fancy machine that comes with all kinds of software
capabilities. He was teaching me about the machine. I am thankful for
that new knowledge.
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” – Ephesians 5:25
“Love
is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is
not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is
not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight
in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts,
always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” – 1 Corinthians
13:4-8
