We Are One

I'm staring at this blank post box and I just don't know what to say.

I'm deeply saddened by the senseless murder on the rise in this country and around the world; all of it. I'm horrified by the path we humans just can't seem to get off of, and I'm fed up with the lack of action to create real, lasting change. Please read the next sentence out loud.

We are one.

To operate under any other statement is to encourage people to focus on our differences rather than our overwhelming similarities. You can feel pride in your own particular culture without feeling the need to place yourself higher than anyone else. You can celebrate your uniqueness and the uniqueness of your neighbor without trying to convince them to fall in line behind you. Believe it or not, you can choose to treat everyone with respect and love even when they are hell-bent on hating you. Jesus did it; so can you.

We are one. I mean all of us. All of us Americans are one. All of us North Americans are one. All of us humans are one. ALL OF US. Make this your mantra. No matter what color your skin is, no matter what religion you subscribe to (or not), no matter where you live, no matter what your job is, no matter how much money you make or where your kids go to school or what candidate you support, WE ARE ONE. Disagree? Shut that voice down in your head and force it to listen to the truth: WE ARE ONE. Until this is our banner, people will always feel justified in taking down someone else.

Maybe you've dealt with violence/hatred/racism all too often. Maybe this is your daily existence. Maybe you fear for the lives of your family and friends day in and day out. Maybe this is your reality. I can't even begin to imagine what that is like and what it does to you as a person. My heart breaks for you and all of us who live in this brutal reality. I want everyone to be able to live without constant fear for their lives and the lives of their loved ones. I want to hear from you. I want to understand as much as possible. I want to help facilitate the change necessary to allow all of us to live in peace and mutual respect for one another. It's why I joined up with Samaritas to help refugees fleeing their war torn countries, and it's why I am writing this today. I don't have all the answers, but I'm eager to participate in the finding and implementation of them.

We are one. What violates one, violates us all. We must stand against all the hate and violence in the world. We must do what we can to bring everyone to the table and shatter the lies we've all been believing about each other and ourselves. The time to act is NOW. It is no longer acceptable (and should have never been) to ignore what is happening all around us just because it isn't directly happening to us. Refuse to let fear control your life and the lives of those around you. We can all do something. Figure out what that something is and do it. If you have children, make sure they know what you're doing so they can learn from your example. If you've been left unscathed, don't believe for one second that just because the horrors of this world have yet to arrive at your doorstep that they won't. We are one.

Taking sides will not work. More violence will not work. Attempting to separate yourself from it all will not work. Refusing to listen to people with different opinions/experiences/cultures/beliefs/struggles than our own will not work. We are one. We must decide, right now, to work together. We must sit eye to eye and hear each other out. We must be determined to change the trajectory of our story as a species because, at this point, being human is awful. Get involved. Be the change you want to see in the world, after all, you live here too. We are one.

A final thought for those who follow Jesus: You are commanded to love everyone. Period. Check yourself. What are you putting out into the world? The love of Christ shining through you? Or are you sending out wave after wave of negativity and fear straight from the mouth of hell? Get right with God and then get on with what He's charged you to do. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, & strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. Who would Jesus hate/ignore/refuse to help? No one. The answer is NO ONE. Now go out there and make a difference in His name. It is the only thing that will matter in the end. There are no sidelines, we're all called out onto the field. Get in the game.

WE ARE ONE