Seeing through the tear gas

A lot of soul searching has been going on over the past few weeks. Then a horrific tragedy occurred, and the world watched a man die under the knee of a law enforcement officer. Then the cities erupted. The protests grew up into every major city in America and we found ourselves as a nation trying to put words to what we were witnessing. I have watched a lot of people, make a lot of statements regarding these events that currently still have emotions at a boiling over point. Something has been on my heart through it all.

I am not a black man. I am white. Yes, I was raised in a multi-racial family — I have a mixed sister, two black stepbrothers and numerous black family members — but that does not make me a black man. So, I will never know what a man of color goes through day to day. So, I am not in a place to speak about that.

Here is what I do know. It does not matter what George Floyd did leading up to that moment captured on film. Nothing justifies his murder. Those officers will face justice through the system we currently have in place and we pray that there is justice.

I also know that not all the protesters are rioters. The protesters are very passionate and, yes, they are standing in the face of inequity, but most are not doing the damage. Those people are just taking the opportunity to push their own agenda Which just happens to be hate directed in a different direction.

I also know this. There is a problem with saying nothing, and there will always be someone finding fault in what you do say. Therefore, I thought long and hard before writing this. I almost did not even attempt but I was convicted by my heart. What if? What if this was my son, my brother or my friend? Would I remain sitting in the gallery and watching, or would I stand up and shout to be heard? People are standing. People are watching. People are shouting. People are sharing.

This problem will not be solved at a legislative level either. This is a community problem. This racism issue or a lack-of-empathy issue will only be changed if hearts are changed. My heart and yours. This is an everyone problem. There is only one thing I know of that can change that many hearts. That thing is the church. I am not talking about a building with four walls either. I am taking about the body of Christ. The true church. A heart change, nationwide, can only be accomplished by unity in the community of believers who show the rest we will not accept intolerance anymore.

How do we do that? It starts with a conversation. Talk to people. Face to face. Get off your phones and truly understand what your different-skinned neighbor is going through. Stand up for them. If you have a platform, use it.

Our country has suppressed the rights of so many since getting here. Native Americans, blacks, women, the poor, children, hispanics, Middle Easterners, Asians and more. We need to change. Don’t get me wrong, either. This is not a Democrat or Republican thing, this is not a law enforcement versus the people thing, this is not a me against anyone thing. This is an all created equal thing. We are all sons and daughters of a creator, and until we get that, well, people will continue to get hurt.

We need to stop with racist jokes, stop being in fear of someone different than ourselves, stop accepting less money for the same jobs, stop allowing people to be stepped on to move up. Time to stand up against things that are wrong.

We need to see through the tear gas in the streets and look at the hearts of man. We can no longer have our heads in the sand, because not looking makes us just as guilty. I can not speak for a person about things I can never experience. But I can pass the mike to them. I can listen to their story. We can also pray. I’m Jess Saying.