Followers

Monday, September 26, 2016

AVERY HEAVY HEART and a REQUEST that you SHARE this.

I was born in the 1950's and grew up in the 60's when the Civil Rights movement really became a focus once again.

I was never aware that I had so many advantages being born white in America.
I have never been looked down on because of the color of my skin. I have never been pulled over because I am a white woman who "looks suspicious".

I grew up where Negroes (as the African-Americans were called then) were a part of my life.
The foreman on my father's construction company was to a young girl, the biggest man she had ever seen with the largest hands imaginable. I didn't know he was different. We had a Black housekeeper, who when my mother died, we had to beg her to quit working and sit down and be with us.

I remember watching the news when James Meredith wanted to enroll at the University of Mississippi and had to have the US Marshall accompany him, so that he would be the first Black admitted to a university in the south-ever. I remember last year being at Ole Miss, requesting my friends to take me to the administration building where it all started, and saw with pride the statue of James Meredith on the Ole Miss campus.

I remember being at my grandmother's beach house when the Watts Riots started. I remember asking why this was happening. I just didn't understand as a ten year old what would cause this.
I remember when Martin Luther King Jr was murdered. I was a sopohmore in high school and I marched in downtown Palo Alto with my friend Nancy. I was devastated that a man who wanted to promote racial reconciliation was gunned down by a white man.

I remember my father building two apartment complexes in East Palo Alto for the Black people at an affordable price in the 1960's.

I imagine I have always been a civil rights advocate in my own life.

As a follower of Christ, I believe firmly that God has created all men (and women) equal. That we have no color in His eyes; that He sees us just as His children. And yet for the past year, my soul- the deepest part of me that is true, has been at unrest at the racism in our country.
For the past 3 months I have been with such a heavy heart of what has transpired in our country.
I began praying everyday for racism to be obliterated. I have been asking God what I could do. What can I, a white woman in my 60's who lives in the middle of nowhere (seriously, I live one hour away from the 3 closest towns) can do.

I came to the realization that politics won't fix our problem. That communities can do what they can, but will it only be for their particular city.
Only the Church of Jesus Christ can begin the process of reconciliation in our country.
Do you know that as of today (September 26th) that 703 people have been documented deaths by police in this year alone? and that 173 Deaths have been Black Americans.
Believe me, I am not condemning our policemen. I like the police; they protect me. I realize that there are good cops who deeply care about the people they protect (they are the overwhelming majority) and there are bad cops as well.

But it TIME WE DO SOMETHING. It is time for the Church in America to lead the change.
This morning I read in a book by Tony Evans, a Black pastor in Dallas, about fasting.
When our prayers don't seem to work or produce the change we need, we need to consider fasting.

I am not famous. I will never be one of the bloggers who has thousands of followers. But I am a woman who follows Christ with all that is me and I want to be obedient. Today, I feel like God has begun to answer my prayer for racial reconciliation.

I am asking you who follow Jesus, to share this post.
I am asking that on Sunday October 9, 2016, Followers of JESUS across the country to fast and pray for the racial tensions to end.
Fasting, according to Evans "is the abstinence from some form of physical gratification, for a period of time, in order to achieve a greater spiritual goal." Tony Evans goes on to say that in fasting, "you deliberately show God that you are serious about getting His attention and that you are intently listening for his voice". When we choose to fast, we choose God and His word over our own physical appetite. We see things with greater clarity when we fast because we are seeking God and His answers , instead of our own. When we fast, we choose intentionally, to come into God's presence for His wisdom.

What if on October 9th, The Black Faith Community joins with the White Faith Community across our country, and we fast together, pleading with God to change the course of what is happening in our country in regards to race. What if we ask heaven to move mountains so that God's purpose is carried out on earth.

What if 53 years later, the end of Martin Luther King's " I have a Dream" speech spoken at our nations capital can begin to come true.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.


I have a dream that we, the followers of Christ can make a difference.
Will you join me On October 9th please?

5 comments:

  1. Missy, this is the first time I've read your blog. It was shared by one of our friends that we respect greatly and that reveals God in her actions. It's clear that God is moving in your heart, Missy, and you are eloquent in the words you use to express that. But if I may be so bold as to say that your excuse of "living in the middle of nowhere" and how that limits what you can do to address racism is just that - an excuse. If the Spirit of God is calling this white woman to do something, then move! Move closer to where you can be salt and light in a black community, where you can make a real difference. God doesn't call us to comfort and security but to a wild adventure in service to His Kingdom. That's what the Incarnation of Jesus was all about, leaving His home in heaven to come and do what we couldn't do on our own. I don't know your circumstances or what might keep you from doing more but don't waste the move of God in your heart with just wishful thinking. Be willing to give it all to Him and the folks that he died for. May God reveal His will to you in your fast and bless you with a strong desire to be obedient to it.

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  2. My mom lives where she does because her and my dad are on You g Life staff and work at a camp property of Young Life that minister's to thousands of teenagers each year, preaching the gospel and giving them a place to come and hear about how God sent His son to die on the cross for their sins. She makes a huge impact even from where she lives. Her current role, after being an RN for over 30 years in the San Francisco Bay Area is being the National Prayer and Resources Director for College Young Life. She is constantly traveling across the country to colleges and universities investing in leaders and pouring into the lives of college students. She may say she "lives in the middle of nowhere" but she is making a huge impact even with a rural address and is living out a calling. My father and her have always lived a life of ministry and service for their 40 years of marriage.

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    1. I apologize if my comments offended you, Katie. I wasn't criticizing your mom's spirituality or occupation as I know nothing about her. I am well informed of the ministry of Young Life as my best friend has been on staff with a YL camp in Colorado for over 10 years. And I just recently completed reading the founder of YL, Jim Rayburn's autobiography last year. YL has a long and blessed history of changing lives. I was just saying that sometimes God calls His people to do something different, sometimes crazy things as measured by the world. As your mom said, "It's TIME WE DO SOMETHING." Fasting is a good way to get guidance from God or confirmation on what to do, but ultimately, God's people are going to have to live out different lives to achieve racial reconciliation. And I believe God is calling many to move into the hurting neighborhoods of our nation's minority people. I love the way The Message translates John 1:14 - "The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood." Maybe that very heavy heart that your mom feels is God's way of calling her (and others) to choose new neighbors.

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    2. No, I apologize. I just wanted my mom to know how proud I am of her. She sometimes feels isolated having moved from the city to rural mountains and transitioning from a career as a nurse to one in full-time ministry instead of being my dad's partner in ministry as that has always been his vocation. But, I wanted to afffirm her that she is making waves and impacting lives from her corner of the world and when she travels and by how she gives and when urban camps are held at camp, etc. it's important to me as an adult that my parents know how proud I am to call them mine. They have hearts that beat for so many things and pursue Christ and His people daily so I wanted to affirm her. I appreciate you spurring her on. My apologies.

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    3. As they say here in Guatemala, "No tenga pena, Katie." (Don't worry about it.) Your pride in and love for your mom is a good thing and reflects well of her. May God bless you both as you continue to strive for Him and extend His Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven.

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