This week is supposed to begin jury selection for Derek Chauvin, the former police officer charged in the murder of George Floyd. It’s been a year since Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. What have we learned?
I’ve learned that we, as white people, needed to listen because COVID had shut us down in that time period. It seared our minds. For a hot minute we were paying attention.
But, as white people, if we can’t workshop a problem in about 6 weeks we give up and go back to our comfortable stereotypes.
We are looking at the week of this trial and if you will look at pictures of Minneapolis, barriers are going up everywhere.The National Guard is being deployed. It’s the city getting prepared, almost knowing the outcome before it even starts.
What we will not recognize is that this is a reckoning. We, as white people, are blowing it again and again when it comes to justice and racism and then we get mad at people who get mad… and then react in a way WE find “unacceptable.” (Unless, of course, we’re storming the U.S. Capitol…)
This trial begins during Lent and it is appropriate. This SHOULD be the time when we, as believers, sit back in repentance and listen. Will we?
This is the reckoning.
Along that subject (of white Christians blowing it) there was an interview with Lecrae on the Holy Post Podcast that is well worth your time. (It starts around the 22 minute mark if you don’t want to listen to the banter at the beginning of the podcast.) Lecrae is a black artist who was extremely popular among white evangelical groups… until he mourned the murder of Trayvon Martin.
Lord, we are in need of your Spirit to break our hard hearts in this time. Let us listen.
Apprentice 2 Jesus 