Remember to move your feet

Do you practice what you preach? Talk is cheap, real change costs us in time, effort, and heart.

“I don’t know” – it may be true and it is good to admit instead of trying to create an explanation. But when you really do know, you should say it. Speak the truth instead of trying to hide behind ignorance. I have noticed that lately from officials trying to escape responsibility.

“I’m sorry”…..oh, are you sorry for the wrong that you’ve done, or because you were caught red-handed? It is only as you attempt restitution, express remorse, or turn around (repent) and start doing the right things, that you demonstrate the reality of your apology.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with you”…nice sentiment and comforting words, but have you attempted to really help? If you have the ability to do something to alleviate suffering, prevent further harm, or build a strong foundation to help improve others conditions, then your prayers and thoughts are empty words. You need to put feet to your prayers and quit uttering pious pronouncements.

As the late John Lewis used to say, quoting the African proverb –“when you pray, move your feet”

Bunny counts

 In our confused, contentious, crazy world, it is easy to lose sight of things that are important.

Often we have plenty of people who tell us what we should be paying attention to, and many times they are right. The problem is that we get stressed out, from the seriousness, the multiplicity, and the seeming powerlessness of we common folk to actively affect the outcome of the battles we see all around us. 

Whether it is the covid-19 virus, the racial tensions, or a government that is seemingly unresponsive or worse yet, hostile to our cries for  help in the many crises we face, it all gets to be a bit overwhelming. We all need a break sometimes. No relationship can survive only concentrating on serious matters. My wife and I can be very serious, but we also have a lot of fun. And when all seems dark we need to see the sun breaks. They are often right in front of our faces.

An example for me is my morning walks. Because I work from home daily I could literally jump out of bed and logon to my computer and begin work. I don't because even though I am a life-long early bird (just ask my sisters), I need to get my eyes clear and my mind prepared for the day. And I need the exercise as well. So every day I walk around my neighborhood for 30-45 minutes. I give myself pep talks and remind myself of what I am grateful for specifically.. And I breathe deeply the surrounding green, savor the rain when it falls, and observe the local creatures.

We have plenty of crows, jays, robins, and ducks that fly to and fro, with many different voices. We have squirrels, an occasional raccoon. But my favorite are the local wild rabbits.

I am surprised many times when they dart out from the bush, or I come across them munching the grass beside the sidewalks and trails I travel. I recently discovered we have a local garden by a nearby church that was set up to help people grow their own vegetables during the virus isolation time. That may explain some of the bunny sightings, eh?  Anyway I pay attention , and take pictures, of the local inhabitants. And I often count how many I see on my walks. Sometimes just 1 or 2, a few times up to 9 or 10, and sometimes none at all -like today:(. 

It is a good reminder that life goes on all around us. It gives balance to our lives, helping us weather the storms of life. Kind of like taking a deep breath. So as you do daily battle and stand up for what is right, remember not only to "stop and smell the roses along the way", but also take a "bunny count" - and don't forget to chomp your own carrots:)

Don't be Colorblind

In response to questions about racial inequality many are tempted to say

“ I don’t see color, I view everyone as equal” or “I’m colorblind”

To some that might seem okay, but there are hidden dangers with that approach and there are 3 specific problems.

One is that in reality you are not colorblind – unless you have a vision test that determines your eyes are malfunctioning. And that only means you have trouble distinguishing the red/yellow/green of the stoplights. Everyone notices color differences, as well as other racial/ethnic physical differences. It is as clear as we determine gender differences or height/weight, etc. To say we don’t observe those is just being dishonest. It isn’t wrong to see differences, it is how we react to those differences. And to state that we “don’t see color” is to say we see equality as everyone being like us, not as truly equal as they are.

The second problem with “colorblind” is that it ignores the obvious inequality of background, history, and what different people have had to struggle with in their lives. My wife and I share a lot in common, but we differ greatly in family background – her parents were divorced when she was just 5, my parents were married for 36 years (death do them part) until my mom passed away. That made our growing up time very different. I have several great-nieces and great nephews who are biracial. Their life experiences have been widely different than mine. I will never have to suffer getting profiled or judged wrongly  based on appearance,  but they have had to deal with that all their lives. For me to say I am colorblind is to deny those experiences. And to excuse not extending help in overcoming that obvious bias.

The third problem is a little bit more subtle. I think a lot of people are afraid of diversity and “colorblind” is a way for them to pretend those don’t exist – there is safety in thinking those others are just like us. But those who we see as different have had different experiences, they’re not just like us – and that is okay. Because if you accept and appreciate another’s life experiences you expand your own experience. And you have the opportunity to not just give help, but receive help.

You have the opportunity to bond and grow.

I have learned much over the years as I have embraced diversity. My mom raised me to accept people as equals, no matter who they were, where they were from, no matter how different they appeared to me. And I try to live that out every day.

I am not colorblind, and neither should you. Seeing differences does not diminish the basic equality of value that we ascribe to all.