" A Leap of Faith." This leap occurred doing the pandemic. It started as a process I didn't really plan on. Here I was at the beginning of the Covid pandemic. Home with now time to fill pretty much as I wanted. I am not one to watch TV 24/7. So I thought about books I had collected with the intent of reading at my leisure. Well intent met leisure, I picked up this book, "The Skin You Live In, Building Friendships Across Cultural Lines" by David Ireland.
Being a retired teacher/counselor who had been a substitute teacher for 10 years after retiring, collecting discarded books from teachers' rooms became an adventurous hobby. This book was very intriquing yet easy read. First, the questions posed were reflective and not condemning you for whatever your beliefs are. Providing rational reason to leave your comfort zone. Even throwing scriptures lightly, not brow beating, just a slight nudge. He used his life of shopping at a supermarket noticing racial and cultural diversity as an opening at the beginning of the book. Similar to going to the local supermarket during a pandemic because for me it was my only opportunity to be around others besides my teen sophomoric college son. Those with teens no the scope of our interaction.
In the beginning of this covid pandemic where almost the entire world was facing the same
disease, having fears and questions with little answers. Yet those powerful words began ringing out, "We are in this Together". It was resonating with my family, church members, neighbors. We were reaching out to others rarely spoken to or called. Prayerlines were encouraging anyone to call. Then as I was reading more into this book. A prayer in the book was asking a change to come in me sparked a challenge for the change I wanted in my community. The prayer wanted me to forgive others for racial inustice done to me and others. I couldn't just forgive without asking for Divine Justice, Divine Order, Divine Law, Divine Truth and Divine Love. I needed for God to bring that DIVINE JOLT with HIs/Her Love. I didn't want revenge unless It could make true and lasting positive difference. Revenge never brings closure or ownership to the people causing the need for revenge.
- Then that tragic day when George Floyd was brazenly, undenible, uncaringly killed with no regards to who was videoing, what others were saying. The world seem to react in unison and revealing how racial injustce had been occurring in other countries, England, Germany, France. It was like pulling the sheets off the slain bodies to command change not demand. This wasn't the first lynching. Yet thousands and thousands across the world were commanding it be stopped by marches, organizing, even in some cases burning. The difference seem that most of the media kept the focus on the cause of the action both positive and negative, rather than acts of violence. For the first time I saw equal amount of varied races, gender and age commanding change, taking a leap of faith to march together, join organizations to make a change, voicing in unison "Black Lives Matter" throughout the world.
The underlying factor is the need to live in a society together safe and respected. This pandemic revealed both positive and negative. When I saw the marches across the world in response to George Floyd's death. I felt this Leap of Faith thinking change is possible. Even the need for negative leaders spurring division. It was like a battery needing both + and - to charge the battery enough to move a car. More people registered and voted in the midst of a pandemic than anytime in the history of United States. Plus more women of various cultures, age and race were winning elections. That leap to seek better for our country, our world. The change is happening . I demonstrated my need to try something different as I joined an organization to encourage people to register and vote. We were people of all walks of life, races, age, gender throughout the United States. Never before had I joined such an organization. All we wanted was an opportunity for change for varying reasons. I have met some very interesting people who helped me change my world views and perceptions of people across the United States. There was one woman who whole family were Trump supporters who was against her wanting to help people to register to vote to stop Trump from being reelected That simple book and prayer is transforming my life in building new friendships, less rejecting of people who are different. I am cautiously optimistic the justice system and policing will become more equitable in long over due time. Maybe one day in the future it will become less imperative to have the "talk" to prepare our children, especially our sons, for survival before starting school or out in the world.
Thank you for those who took the time to read this blog. Please feel free to share your comments, provide your own insight.
