When I last posted on here, we were just beginning this decade, with hope and excitement. There was curiosity about what the 2020's held for us. Just a couple of months into the year/decade, we were introduced to COVID19 and our lives began to change. Shoot. Our world changed. Not just our country, but our world. Fear of becoming ill began to run rampant. Tens of thousands of people all over Earth were stricken and passed away. People became quarantined; schools closed down; businesses closed; families were separated; seamstresses and crafters began creating masks when there wasn't enough protection equipment to protect medical professionals and first responders, then passing them onto the general public; and life became more different than anyone could have predicted. Many felt that 2020 brought us into the middle of a science fiction movie and the economic stability plummeted. People were unable to pay their rent, their mortgages, buy groceries, pay bills. The government did what they could do to help by opening up options for unemployment, offered stimulus packages, postponed IRS filing, deferred student loan payments and other payments to help people navigate their budgets.
As the year has continued, the world started working on opening up, the bitterness and hostility that had built up in society exploded. People tired of being locked down; of the government deciding what we were allowed to or not allowed to do; and felt increasingly isolated. I believe that the tension, depression, and anxiety build-up opened the door to the only thing possible. People craved interaction with others; physical touch; independence; and freedom. As the months moved on, emotions built-up, and bred anger. Racial inequality became the focus. Social distancing became a second thought and righteous anger took over. After African Americans were murdered and society did what happened far too many times.... The dead were not validated and those who murdered them were not called to justice. What began as a plea for justice became nationwide civil unrest. What began as people begging to be treated equally and fairly, fueled by built up emotions from the past few months as well as racism that our country started with.
Racism, in my opinion, began in the U.S. when those who relocated from other countries chose to take away from those who already inhabited our country. As time and years passed on, we forgot that we were the newly created melting pot. Instead of melting together, we strained those "ingredients" that were different and labeled them as "less-than." As years progressed, some people maintained that view and treated those "different" people quite cruelly, even inexplicably murdering them, producing fear in populations of people who aren't the same; producing a perception of privilege that one group was "better-than" others. One group against another and against another and against another. The "United" States became less and less united in various time periods... Including the middle of 2020.
In the midst of the changes in our society through COVID19 and now the rioting/looting and protests, my heart began crying. I read arguments between people who are friends, between families. The worst part of this time period to me? The divisiveness in our community. The loss of relationships when people disagree has always been a concern, but this period seems to be even worse than I've seen. The middle of 2020 has brought increasing isolation and increasing conflict/division in a world that I love so much. I will often write a rant when I see things going sideways, when I feel I have to fight for a justice. My words won't come this time. As I try to process everything happening, this verse came to mind.
In the midst of the changes in our society through COVID19 and now the rioting/looting and protests, my heart began crying. I read arguments between people who are friends, between families. The worst part of this time period to me? The divisiveness in our community. The loss of relationships when people disagree has always been a concern, but this period seems to be even worse than I've seen. The middle of 2020 has brought increasing isolation and increasing conflict/division in a world that I love so much. I will often write a rant when I see things going sideways, when I feel I have to fight for a justice. My words won't come this time. As I try to process everything happening, this verse came to mind.
"A wise man holds his tongue." ~ Proverbs 10:14
I realized that neither side will hear rational thought. Verbal de-escalation isn't working. Mediation isn't working. I'm one of the population deemed privileged without anyone knowing my background or experiences. The majority that I see and hear are invalidating one another's side. My heart breaks. I love with my whole heart. The lives of those who are protesting. The lives of those who are hurting and struggling. The lives of those who have been lost so tragically. Those servants who are trying to maintain peace and safety. Jesus said we are even to love those who are so hateful. I refuse to be one who responds to hate and anger with hate and anger. My heart hopes with all I have in me that the middle of 2020 becomes the turning point. Is it possible to hope that the second half of 2020 brings peace from this turmoil? That at some point we will be unified?
I know that 2020 holds more change in my own life that I'll share in another post at some point. What I don't know is what the big picture of 2020 looks like as a whole for the world. Will you do something with me? Will you pray for the bitterness to dissipate? For us to remember that we are a melting pot that requires the ingredients of each and every one of us to make it the beautiful and flavorful creation that was envisioned so long ago.
all contents (c) 2020 Laura Inglis
