I was going to write a different post today.
But there are no right words for a world that is descending into injustice where the rule of law and decency is ignored from street level to the highest offices.
There are no words when we judge based on skin and not on the character of a heart.
When we reject seeing the divine in each of God’s people, we start the downward cycle of rejecting compassion and spinning into the abyss of hatred and violence.
There are no words for times like these. Some rage, some cry, and some wonder why.
And as I sit down to write my city has joined in announcing a curfew – hoping that more enforcement can contain a world primed with fear and hate.
I don’t have an answer or the right words.
But I can’t help but think that we would do better as a nation if we listened more and tried to heal divisions.
I did see an interesting sign of hope. A FaceBook friend reposted a picture the Santa Cruz Police Chief kneeling with the other peaceful protesters in his city. See:
https://patch.com/california/santacruz/santa-cruz-police-chief-kneels-alongside-peaceful-protesters
The only thing I know for sure is that healing begins with listening and the willingness to embrace change within ourselves.
Andrew's View of the Week 
I hope some positive change springs from the response to these terrible events.
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I’m hopeful.
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Well said, Andrew.
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Thank you
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Your words speak well. I’m struggling with my own. At first I thought, well, I can’t say it better than others but then I realized the problem is in our silence. We have to speak out against injustice and speak with the oppressed.
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We can no longer be silent.
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Yes, even though there are no words, you’ve managed to say what most of us are thinking. I’ve been saying something else for a long time – we don’t have to worry too much about some other country destroying us, we are destroying our country ourselves. We’re imploding and we must stop before it’s too late.
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There is always hope for change – before we tear ourselves apart.
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COVID was bad enough but this may be worse–these riots around peaceful protests. My heart is breaking.
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It does seem like we’re getting problems added to problems.
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You did better at finding words than I did.
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I found a few words. I wish I had better words.
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You are absolutely right but your country’s racist attitudes seem to be so widespread. Perhaps you need to make “Race hate speech” a crime not a right. This video both amazed, and did not amaze, me:
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Sadly this is a common occurrence in our nation.
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Re: The video in the park. Two wrongs don’t make a right. The woman should have had her dog leashed. The man should not have decided to ‘make an example’ of her rapidly escalating hysteria and post a video tape of it on social media.
This video should just be allowed to die, not passed along through the viral feed mill.
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Bless you and thank you for this post.
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and you.
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I’m with you… ❤ What a great country this could be if we were all willing to listen, learn and love!
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If we could get people to do that, it would be so much better.
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My heart aches as I see on tv your country disintegrating and going up in flames. Stay safe Andrew
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We’re safe, and the news media does tend to make the problem worse than it is. There are hot spots, but it’s not everywhere.
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Media certainly make it look as though the whole country is on fire
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Things are bad, but never as bad as the press wants us to believe.
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Media always seem to exaggerate and sensationalise everything
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Such sad and disturbing times. I don’t recognize our country.
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These are disturbing times.
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