From the General Presbyter
When I looked on CNN to find information about the mass shooting at a Baltimore City block party, I found nothing. Never let it be said that I don’t think shooting of school children is front page news; it is a heinous crime that deserves full coverage.
Yet, I am afraid that the media, and maybe we ourselves, have gotten used to shootings in major cities, especially in neighborhoods with a large African American population. I must confess that sometimes I change the channel when the news gets too bad. I also confess that I can grow weary of vigils and marches and meetings and protests. Yes, these must continue in earnest, but when will this shooting stop? And where oh where, is the church?
There is much we can do at the voting booth to change the systems and laws that create this kind of behavior and the underlying disease of hatred of self and neighbor. But I wonder if we can think about our own attitude toward one another? Some people you may know are just two or three decisions away from “going postal” or “storming the Capitol” or posting hate speech online. I get “nasty grams” all the time from people who don’t believe Black Lives Matter or are against drag queens. How many “haters” have actually met a drag queen?
My point is this: as individual Presbyterian followers of Christ, we have got to commit to curb the violence and hatred within ourselves. Period. That doesn’t mean you don’t feel angry and cannot vehemently disagree. I’m not too happy with the Supreme Court right now on their stance on Affirmative Action. But I have no right, under God to hate the Asian young man who brought the suit. That only hurts me and my community and possibly stands in the way of rich, fruitful relationships I may have with my Asian siblings. I need to take that energy and learn more about those I oppose. I need to pray without ceasing and vote. I need to find out how I can mentor a child so that he or she has a chance at a good safe gun free life instead of spending years in jail for a weapons charge.
What are you going to do? Think about it……
– Jackie
