June 27th, 2020: What Are We Missing?

 

 

It was quite windy yesterday morning when I went for a walk. On a hot and humid day, the wind is a needed welcome break. On a cold and chilly day, the wind increases the level of discomfort. Sometimes it was challenging to keep the car on the road. I have also witnessed semi-trucks jackknifed because of the wind. Regardless of how we feel and what the external condition is, the wind always signifies changes.

When we consider many things that have been happening in recent months, many changes are needed. It is the new kind of wind we are waiting for. 

We need to teach about the consequences of right and wrong. Let us not be too quick to point out fingers at others when we are in the wrong. Why do we think that we have the right to shame others when we are guilty? Accountability is for everyone, not just the law enforcement agencies.

We need to teach about respect for private and public poverty. There is no way to reconcile the call for justice by being unjust to others. No one seems to call these lawless folks to accountability. Why do we accept the narrative that lawlessness is acceptable?

We need to teach about history so that we can deal with racism and injustice once and for all. Toppling down statues and monuments are dangerous because the future might not be any better when we erase the past. Are we really confronting racism or are we creating more angst within our society?

We need to teach about what it means to be parents. Children don't raise themselves, and they need help in growing up to be responsible people. Relinquishing such responsibility has caused a tremendous breakdown in the social fabric. It is a scary proposition to think that social media is the main source of learning for our children.

We need to teach a new pride in the ownership of our life. When we fail to take ownership of our well-being, we practice a new form of slavery, slavery to our own victimized mentality. We cannot just talk about pride and avoid the ownership conversation.

We need to teach about hope. Hope will help us to correct what is wrong. Hope will guide us past the fallacy of despair. Hope will open our eyes to look beyond the present moment. Hope will grant us the courage to walk through doors that we have been avoiding.

We might want to pray for these teachings. They might be part of the wind of change that we have been counting on. Pray that this kind of wind will reshape the condition of our hearts and transform our spirit.

John 3:8   

"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."