Dear Unsettled Friends ~
Recent weeks have produced a second pandemic of sorts. We are in the midst of the most troubling observations, our horrified hearts ache with deep concern and grief at the ongoing suffering of our black brothers and sisters.
I've pretty much lived in a 'white bread world' so I am rather still and quiet as I sit with what I'm re-learning about the vastness of racial injustice from the words and images of activists and writers, pastors and therapists, leaders of the movement and Christian educators.
And especially those so raw and wounded, deeply traumatized, emotionally and spiritually exhausted by the stark reality of the abuse and tragedy they've endured.
Along the way, I've gotten a taste of that raw reality from the experiences of black women I did life with as sister classmates in college and graduate school. My eye-opening learning process continued with many hours of connecting with courageous women of color in the counseling office as they shared their stories and diligently worked toward healing.
I am a long ways away on having any kind of substantial answers to the tragedy that is unfolding before our very eyes. This is a season of grief embraced, of lament over injustice and suffering of generations of brothers and sisters created in the image of our beautiful God.
I am shaken but not silent.
We know and serve the One who modeled love. Compassion. Righteous anger. Justice. Peace. Hope. I'm leaning into His Spirit these days for the ability to listen deeply, to cultivate a heart that discerns truth, to respond in ways that honor Christ.
I'm thinking that if you're here, you are, too.
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Come join me online this Tuesday evening,
June 9th, at 6 pm {eastern} for
'A response to cries in the streets and the cries of our hearts will be heard from leaders of Alliance Theological Seminary (ATS), Tuesday, June 9 at 6:00 PM. This virtual panel discussion, “I Can’t Breathe: A Christian Response to Racial Injustice,” is the first in a series of upcoming discussions on faith, family and race.
Panelists include Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) Metro District Superintendent and Corporate Vice President of the C&MA, Kelvin Walker; Vice President and Dean of ATS, Ronald Walborn; Associate Professor of Church History, Louis DeCaro; Assistant Professor of Old Testament, Cleotha Robertson; Director of Intercultural Studies, Stanley John; Director of Field Education, Charles Galbreath; Director of Academic Affairs, Constance Diggs; and Chair of Developmental Education, Nathaniel Perez.
In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
Tune in to hear these campus leaders speak truth to the power of justice.'
Click here and scroll down for access to the Zoom event.
And feel free to come on back here to the blog to dialogue. As a Nyack College graduate and third generation member of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, I am eager to tune in to this virtual panel discussion. I'd love for you to join me.
Let's listen well together.
Prayerfully,
Linda
Let's listen well together.
Prayerfully,
Linda
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visiting with
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Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
