I’m tempted to stay silent.
As bodies fall to my left and my right,
the question enters my mind, “Am I next?”
Maybe if I’m quiet I’ll get through unscathed.
I’m tempted to stay silent.
Keeping quiet will keep the peace.
Let things just settle down and it will be fine.
Soon things will go back to normal.
I’m tempted to be silent.
I am a black man and a pastor to many white people.
My thoughts will anger and unnecessarily provoke
If any of my words are misspoke.
I’m tempted to scream it loud.
Oppression ends now.
Structures of injustice must come down.
Fight the power.
I’m tempted to scream it loud.
Black lives matter too.
It seems they only do when they matter to you.
Why won’t you fight with me?
I’m tempted to scream it loud.
Black on black crime!
Police brutality!
Economic inequality!
Justice justice justice!
Peace Peace Peace!
We can’t be unaffected anymore.
We can’t be silent anymore.
We can’t scream at each other expecting change.
We can’t go back to business as usual.
It’s time for a new normal.
It seems that I stand in the gap between so many thoughts, people groups, facts and I want to just lovingly say to all…
Join me in the gap.
Join me in the place where God calls us to face injustice and violence.
Join me in the place where we mourn for one another’s losses.
Join me in the place where love lives and repentance reigns.
We can’t truly see one another behind our walls.
I’ve been blind by the apathy the life of blessing has afforded me long enough.
We stand closer to the goal than ever but we’ve now been given a clearer window into what has always been there.
We will struggle to move forward when we don’t truly see where we’ve been and where we all stand today.
Don’t do like I did and sit and be glad that the horror is on the other side of your glass.
Come open the door and visit with me in the middle…
The place where offenses may clash but love wins.
The place where peace is made and not kept in silence.
The place where objections and disagreements are aired but true unity begins.
The place where facts give way to truth as we elevate human dignity.
Let’s desire to hear more than speak and understand more than be understood.
I’ve been indoors long enough.
I’m finally outside.
Will you join me?
