I enjoy going to ball games. I love the crowd, the game, the hot dogs. I love standing as the Star-Spangled Banner is sung. I find it meaningful that we take those moments to celebrate what it means to be Americans. I stand because I love our freedom. I stand because millions of men and women have fought for that freedom, many giving their lives for this country.
As I stand, though, I recognize that each of our stories are different. Life in America has been good to me. I've had opportunities that many around the world haven't. But I have dear friends whose story has been different from mine.
Several months ago, after yet another news story came out about a black man being shot by police, one of my African-American friends, a young pastor, shared his experience. He talked about the fear he felt when being stopped by police, which sometimes happened when he hadn't done anything wrong. He wondered about the day when he would have to talk to his children about living in a country where there is fear simply because their skin is darker than others.
As I read his words, my heart broke for him, and for all others who his story represented. Of course, I couldn't relate to the story. I've never felt that kind of fear during a simple traffic stop. But I realized that the simple fact of my inability to relate demanded that I listen. I need to hear the stories of others, to listen to those stories, so that I can understand their experience, their feelings.
Today, many NFL players took a stand for what they believe by not standing during the anthem. Some chose to kneel, while some entire teams chose to stay in their locker room until the anthem was finished. As I look at social media, I see dear friends expressing a wide range of views on this. Some support the players, others boycott the games to express their disagreement with the players' actions. Each one has reasons for their position, and I find that there are important points on both sides.
It seems to me that the right to protest is at the heart of what it means to be an American. The players who chose to kneel were not trying to put down the flag, or the veterans who have served this country. They were making the statement that there are problems in this country that we need to address. Many people complained today that these were a bunch of millionaires seeking attention. But doesn't change happen best when those who have the spotlight take a stand for those who don't? I would suggest that these players were doing exactly what each of us should be doing, letting our voices be heard for those whose voices aren't. It's time to listen to each other, hear each other, understand each other, and stand for one another, whatever that looks like.
But there's another side to the picture that is just as beautiful. The Pittsburgh Steelers chose to remain in their locker room during the anthem. But one Steeler, Alejandro Villanueva, couldn't stay there with them. He came out to the end of the tunnel, stood on the edge of the field with his hand on his heart, standing for the celebration of the country he served while stationed in Afghanistan.
I've written this before, but it still seems important to me today: Stand for what you believe in. Take a stand for your country. Take a stand against injustice. Stand for people who can't take a stand for themselves. I'm thankful to live in America, where standing for what one believes in is the heart of who we are.
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Monday, July 3, 2017
Reflections on my kids, on God, on life...
Yesterday I shared a post from a place of deep gratitude that my kids are okay. Friday night I got a text from Kaleigh saying that she was going to the emergency room. She was out for a walk with her mom, and had a tightening in her chest. Her left hand was tingling, and she broke out in a cold sweat. She said later that it felt like her heart had stopped for a moment. Given her ongoing health issues - an autoimmune disease that we've been trying to treat for several years - the possibility of a cardiac event raised immediate concern. At the emergency room they ran a number of tests - x-ray, EKG, blood work. The doctor said there was no sign of anything wrong, and sent her home. Since that time, she has felt better. (Big thanks to the emergency room team at Kettering Medical Center.)
Then on Sunday night I got a call from Alex, asking about our roadside assistance information. He said that he'd been driving back to the summer camp from a staff party, and they were going through heavy rain. He hydroplaned, and went off the road. There were no injuries, though he and his passengers were pretty shaken up.
As any parent would be, I was extremely thankful for the outcomes of both of these incidents. Every parent's greatest fear is that something happens to our kids. I'm so glad my kids came out of these events okay, and in my post, I expressed my thankfulness for God's protection.
But in the midst of my own gratitude for my kids' safety, I was reminded that not all events have these same outcomes. I think of dear friends who have lost children - whether by disease, or accidents, or even suicide. Does that mean that God wasn't there when these parents were praying?
What if the outcomes this weekend had been different? What if Kaleigh's event had been an actual cardiac incident? What if Alex or his passengers had been hurt, or worse? Would that mean that God hadn't been with them?
I'm reminded that we live in a world where hurt, pain, and death are still part of our reality. These realities invade all of our lives - yes, even praying people. Jesus stated the fact very simply: "In this world you will have trouble." We shouldn't be surprised, or assume we've been abandoned, when these things happen.
In the class I taught at the college about spirituality and healthcare, we dealt with the question of Why. We talked about how people who are going through sickness, injury, and death often ask, "Why me?" I suggested to my class that a more appropriate question is "Why not me?" As long as we live in a world of sin, these things are a part of our reality. And as such, I know that throughout my life painful things will happen to me, as well as to everyone I know. Knowing this doesn't change the hurt when we go through these things, but maybe it takes us back to an understanding of the world we live in.
I believe that the things we experience in this life can only be understood when we recognize that there is a battle going on in this world. There is an enemy - Satan - and he is responsible for the hurt, pain, and death that we experience. John, in his first epistle, said, "We know that we are under the control of the evil one." We are in the midst of a controversy between God and Satan, and the enemy is doing all he can to bring pain to God, and to his children. The war won't last forever. Scripture promises that the day is coming when sin and death will be no more, and every tear will be wiped away.
Until that day, God promises His presence. He said, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." He promises His Spirit to comfort and strengthen us when we hurt, when we don't get the answers to our prayers that we would wish for. He's still there. Our great need in those moments is to trust Him, to turn to Him with our pain, our sorrow, our questions. One of my favorite songs says, "When you can't trace His hand, trust His heart."
I'm thankful today that my kids are okay. I still believe that God had His hand on them over the last few days. But I still have questions. Why have dear friends lost children? Why is my daughter still battling this illness? Why are there so many things that cause us hurt and pain? But I'm thankful that scripture tells me that "God is love." Maybe, ultimately, that's all I really need to know.
Then on Sunday night I got a call from Alex, asking about our roadside assistance information. He said that he'd been driving back to the summer camp from a staff party, and they were going through heavy rain. He hydroplaned, and went off the road. There were no injuries, though he and his passengers were pretty shaken up.
As any parent would be, I was extremely thankful for the outcomes of both of these incidents. Every parent's greatest fear is that something happens to our kids. I'm so glad my kids came out of these events okay, and in my post, I expressed my thankfulness for God's protection.
But in the midst of my own gratitude for my kids' safety, I was reminded that not all events have these same outcomes. I think of dear friends who have lost children - whether by disease, or accidents, or even suicide. Does that mean that God wasn't there when these parents were praying?
What if the outcomes this weekend had been different? What if Kaleigh's event had been an actual cardiac incident? What if Alex or his passengers had been hurt, or worse? Would that mean that God hadn't been with them?
I'm reminded that we live in a world where hurt, pain, and death are still part of our reality. These realities invade all of our lives - yes, even praying people. Jesus stated the fact very simply: "In this world you will have trouble." We shouldn't be surprised, or assume we've been abandoned, when these things happen.
In the class I taught at the college about spirituality and healthcare, we dealt with the question of Why. We talked about how people who are going through sickness, injury, and death often ask, "Why me?" I suggested to my class that a more appropriate question is "Why not me?" As long as we live in a world of sin, these things are a part of our reality. And as such, I know that throughout my life painful things will happen to me, as well as to everyone I know. Knowing this doesn't change the hurt when we go through these things, but maybe it takes us back to an understanding of the world we live in.
I believe that the things we experience in this life can only be understood when we recognize that there is a battle going on in this world. There is an enemy - Satan - and he is responsible for the hurt, pain, and death that we experience. John, in his first epistle, said, "We know that we are under the control of the evil one." We are in the midst of a controversy between God and Satan, and the enemy is doing all he can to bring pain to God, and to his children. The war won't last forever. Scripture promises that the day is coming when sin and death will be no more, and every tear will be wiped away.
Until that day, God promises His presence. He said, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." He promises His Spirit to comfort and strengthen us when we hurt, when we don't get the answers to our prayers that we would wish for. He's still there. Our great need in those moments is to trust Him, to turn to Him with our pain, our sorrow, our questions. One of my favorite songs says, "When you can't trace His hand, trust His heart."
I'm thankful today that my kids are okay. I still believe that God had His hand on them over the last few days. But I still have questions. Why have dear friends lost children? Why is my daughter still battling this illness? Why are there so many things that cause us hurt and pain? But I'm thankful that scripture tells me that "God is love." Maybe, ultimately, that's all I really need to know.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)