Teachable Moment: Grace and Reconciliation

The tragic death of Trayvon Martin has clearly brought forth passionate discourse among all Americans specifically regarding 'stand your ground' laws enacted in 31 states.

What's more reprehensible is the murder of James Craig Anderson. The death of these two young men brought the spectre of racism to the forefront of American consciousness.

What's strikingly resonating is the idea that no matter what is done there's no respect i.e. acceptance nor appreciation of each other as a person and bigotry continues.  It's not just regarding the achievements of African-Americans, but also among Caucasians who may feel constant need to atone for the sins of others. Ultimately, this state of affairs is a cycle that only exacerbates the problem through continued resentment and bitterness.

After the speeches, rallies, and marches this teachable moment should remind everyone of the familar words:

"But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred...We cannot walk alone. As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead."   --- Martin Luther King, Jr "I Have A Dream" Speech

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Overcoming bitterness requires forgiveness. There's much misunderstanding regarding forgiveness.

Forgiveness does not imply untoward actions are condone or less reprehensible.
Forgiveness does not preclude justice.

Forgiveness provides freedom. It's "forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before" (Philippians 3:13, KJV) When speaking of forgetting it's not about mere recollection of memory but rather 'letting go' of the pain and resentment associated with the memory. Indeed, unwillingness or failure to forgive is anchoring oneself to the past and preventing oneself from moving forward.

Forgiveness may be dificult for many people, there may be no doubt as to the truth of this. Forgiveness often occurs through a process of time.
Forgiveness is recognition of the truth "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)

Forgiveness is a measure of God's grace (unmerited favor)

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Grace and Mercy

Further Review


A Family Forgives

A Community Forgives

Thoughts on Trayvon Martin & James Craig Anderson


USATODAY: Understanding Forgiveness

Bible: Forgiveness


Related Blog: Part 2: Movin' from the 'Hood

Related Blog: Part 5 --- The Lord is My Shepherd (Jehovah-Ropheka



Video: Cup of Bitterness

Video: Moving Forward

President Obama's Statement

The Measure of a Man

A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

Adversity + Personal Response = Character

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up, She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.'

'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied.

   

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water.

Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter.

'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity?

Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

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May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

  

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.

Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

Part 3: Move From the 'Hood

The nation witnessed historical moment at the dedication ceremony of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.

It's time for the words of Martin Luther King Jr. to bring forth life, productivity.
It's time to realize that his words are able to produce life not just through enacting policies and laws but more fundamentally through a change of heart.

"Rev. King's words and deeds were given and used to produce changes in laws, practices, and hearts."  ---  "More than a Thought" note at Facebook.com/Ailene_Randolph


There's remembrance of a conversation with a 80+ year old African-American woman who admitted that she prays to God, asking Him for help in removing all bitterness and hate from her heart. She spoke specifically of the bitterness and hate towards caucasian race developed from her past experiences.

It's time for everyone, regardless of race or creed, to be honest about what the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. means personally.

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"I said if just one person comes forward and gets the hate out of their heart, it's all worth it...But I hope there will be a bunch of people. Life's short and we all go to the same place when we die."
--- Elwin Wilson, former KKK member who apologized to Rep. John Lewis for actions done more than 60 years ago.







"Be the change you want to see in the world."   --- Gandhi.

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."  

--- Barack Obama

Change is Responsibility

Honor Deferred

Author's Note: Unless otherwise noted the quotes herein are attributed to Dr. Martin Luther Ling Jr.

"A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house."  --- Matthew 13:57


In a few days there will be flow of speeches and reflections about the legacy of  Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as national monument is dedicated in his honor. There are many people who are offering goodly words now but during the times of his sufferings, there was a deafening silence. It's sad but often true many people choose not to step up in courage in the face of adversity themselves, but also offer no support to those who are willing to make the sacrifice. Betrayal.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

There are some people who see the 'pomp and circumstance' but understand not the endured sufferings often from misunderstandings even among individuals close to him. How difficult it is to communicate understanding of your dream, indeed a vision to others who seemingly have different priorities! Through the years, the Dream has been adulterated and the Vision marred by human bitterness and wanton biases.

"Cowardice asks the question - is it safe? Expediency asks the question - is it politic? Vanity asks the question - is it popular? But conscience asks the question - is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular; but one must take it because it is right.

The Dream was about more than racial equality. It's a vision that seeks to uphold the dignity of all humans -- whether you are a sanitation engineer (garbage man) or a doctor; live in rural Tennessee or urban Los Angeles; Democrat or Republican.

"And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. 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."

The Dream follows the Productivity Principle.

"Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land."


The Dream provides Hope and Assurance.

"With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day."

"And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:

"My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,

From every mountainside, let freedom ring!"

"And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

Just a'knocking

In times like these as we are confronted with reports of earthquakes; wars; wildfires; economic crises ---past, present, and future there may be more than slight trepidation and seem to overwhelm our ability to cope effectively.

Behold, do you hear it? Be still and listen...it's a knock at the door.

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"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." --- III John 1:2


God is concern about the whole man: body, soul, and spirit. The words of the Lord God are and always been practical precepts for daily living. Man has misinterpret the meaning and historical lessons of the Lord God. Confusion has resulted. Man has not been able to enjoy productivity; not just in dollars and cents, but in fulfillment/accomplishment, and general progress. Understanding is essential.

"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word proceedeth out of the mouth of God." --- Matthew 4:4


Many individuals, yes even members of ecclesiastical ranks have taught that understanding is not necessary and that an individual needs to just believe God. There is no realization that the necessity of understanding flows throught the scriptures like water.

"Behold the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing [understanding] the words of the Lord." --- Amos 8:11

Biblically, 'bread' is often referred to as the sustenance of life. Water is depicted as a dead entity unless it is flowing water., which is referred to as living water. Water, an entity though dead, may be converted to life or something useful. The aforementioned scripture speaks of a time when there will be no lack of the sustenance of life, nor of the raw materials or resources to convert to the sustenance of life/something useful. The scripture speaks of a time when there will be no understanding the words of the Lord in daily practical living. The scripture speaks of modern times; Today.

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There's no lack of ideas to achieve productivity in organizations and individuals' lives however, iinstead of utilizing existing resources, even structural framework, the 'glutton of ideas' have become a myriad of auxiliaries, committees, and commissions within religious and secular organizations. the result has been the loss of productivity through inefficiency; selfish pride and vainglory; jealousy; unhealthy competition; cliques; territoriality and 'turf wars'; distrust and fear; and every evil work.



Further Reading

Psalm 34:18 --- "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Isaiah 61:1 --- "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound"

Matthew 25:40 -- "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done unto me."

MLK Jr. Sermon, 06.11.1967: "A Knock at Midnight"


Video: "Behold I Stand at the Door"

Video: Children's Choir --- "Behold I Stand at the Door and Knock"


Video: "Wayfaring Stranger"

Video: Be Still My Soul