Last night, my handsome love and I were in Savannah enjoying an amazing dinner on the river while many were glued to the television anxiously awaiting the verdict for the George Zimmerman trial to be announced. I knew it was coming, but I wasn't checking any updates as we try to be intentional about not using our phones when we are spending time together.
When we got back to the house, though, I turned on the news to watch the press conference featuring Trayvon Martin's representatives. While saddened, I cannot say I was shocked at the outcome of this trial. And it may surprise you to read that I wasn't even infuriated. At least not with the jurors, who I believe followed the instructions given them to the best of their abilities to return a decision based on evidence you and I may never learn.
I'll tell you those with whom I was infuriated: us. The American people.
White people who have never been the target of racism a day in their lives and decided to minimize this tragedy to an overreaction by a community who knows all too well the fight anyone of color fights each day, whether you choose to believe or acknowledge it or rest in ignorance because you don't experience it yourselves.
And black people who cry outrage in this case, yet turn a blind eye to the countless black youth who die at the hands of our own each day all over the nation.
And the people who tore into each other's souls on social media forums, making us all look like God-less lunatics.
These are among the people with whom I was infuriated.
And as painful as it is to say, I must admit, myself.
The reality is, I don't believe for a second that George Zimmerman should have walked. But guess who is the ultimate judge on his life: not you nor I, not the courtroom judge or the media circus. We have but one Judge and He is Almighty God.
So if you don't pray to Him regularly, for the injustices of this world, what sent you to Him last night?
Let's talk about the other Trayvons who need justice and never get their stories heard.
The Trayvons who are bullied in school and end up dead from a fight;
The Trayvons who fall from the bullet or stab wounds of another young, black man who needed only one person to tell him he has so much more potential than what he is allowing himself;
The Trayvons who never even get the chance to walk or talk because they are legally killed through abortion as they grow in their mothers' wombs.
Where is the justice for those Trayvons?
With a 6'2" chocolate-skinned, strikingly handsome younger brother who recently celebrated his 20th birthday, it breaks my heart to know how beautiful his Spirit is and that some people will never even give him a chance because of the way God so intricately and perfectly created him. To have to remind him, that in our suburban neighborhood in North Carolina -- where we pay the same property taxes as everyone else and keep our lawn mown, and our garden kept up -- he needs to always be aware of his surroundings and never do anything to cause suspicion...even if that means he wants to walk to the convenience store at the end of Phoenix Dr. and Holden Rd. to buy some candy and a drink.
Make no mistake, God hates evil. He hates it so much that His own Son became sin for us who are sinful, so that we may cross the bridge into eternal life with Him. And while we are here on Earth, we have the beautiful option to take our burdens and lay them at His feet.
But we have another responsibility while we're here, other than sucking up air and taking up space. We have the option to make a difference. To unite for change rather than point the finger of blame.
Many people may ask why God allowed this situation to unfold the way it did. But I'd rather ask another question: why did we allow it to unfold this way...and how can we avoid this in the future?
For those who are believers, God gives us the opportunity to partner with Him every single day for the glory of His kingdom. Every single day! If you don't believe me, just step outside of yourself and do whatever that seemingly "random" prompting is asking of you.
You know the kind I'm talking about. The promptings that come out of nowhere to help someone, call someone, do something you ordinarily wouldn't do. Those promptings are directly from the Holy Spirit.
But most of the time we're too lazy, too "busy," or too selfish to obey those promptings and we miss out on the blessings God has for us and those He intended for others through our actions. How do I know? Because if you knew how lazy, "busy," and selfish I am most days you wouldn't even read this blog.
If you're outraged about this injustice, do your part to make sure it stops. We can't just keep talking. It's time to act.
Who are you going to mentor?
Who are you going to guide away from abortion and maybe lead them towards adoption?
Who are you going to pray for?
Who are you going to protect?
What are you going to do?
I know where I'm going to start: first and foremost, by letting God be God and taking His hand so I will be ready to follow wherever He leads me.
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