Loose the chains of injustice

As I just wrote, it's past time for me to speak up (if you haven't read it, go do so)

This week I've read about to many injustices ...

bombings/terroristics attacks in Istanbul and Baghdad and Medina
the abductions then deaths of an IJM lawyer, driver and client in Kenya
additional victims of police violence
and now THIS in Dallas!

These things come on the heels of other events like the Orlando Massacre and Stanford swimmer's lenient sentencing for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman.


I'm outraged by these events. I'm tired of hearing about them happening. There seems to be so little progress and so much lament.
Jeremiah 6:14 and 16 run through my head:

They dress the wound of my people
   as though it were not serious.
'Peace, peace,' they say,
   when there is no peace.

This is what the Lord says:
 "Stand at the crossroads and look;
    ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
   and you will find rest for your souls.
   But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'

Along with Psalm 13 and Habakkuk 1.


This time around Isaiah 58 is also running through my mind.


A couple weeks ago in youth group we were using this passage to talk about discovering sabbath delight.  At one point we ask the teens if they could see possible connections between the practice of justice in daily life and delight on the sabbath day. After giving them some time to consider, discuss it between themselves, and share their answers, I shared.
I shared that I unfortunately don't see much justice in my daily life ... I see too much injustice. So instead of delighting, I find myself lamenting.
I want to see more connections between justice and delight on the sabbath day.
It means we need to act.
We need to humble ourselves (58:4), loose the bonds of wickedness, undone the straps of the yoke, let the oppressed go free, break every yoke (58:6), feed the hungry, house the homeless, cover the naked (58:7)
We cannot sit idly by when these things happen.
If we fight for the oppressed, we will begin to see healing! (58:8)

Yes, keep praying for peace and justice, keep lamenting the violence and injustice, but don't stop there.  Recognize your privilege, have uncomfortable conversations, take steps to lose the chains of injustice in your area ...
   In Mechanicsburg, West Shore E-Free Church has an after-school ministry to kids living in Cumberland Pointe. There are other opportunities to work for justice in the area - places like Bethesda Mission, Central PA Literacy Council, or Paxton Ministries.
    In Grand Rapids there are countless awesome non-profits/churches involved in justice work - Baxter Community Center, New City Neighbors, Cook Library, Degage ... I could go on.

It doesn't matter, just SPEAK UP and GET INVOLVED

What are you willing to sacrifice to create a more just society?

My silence is a luxury

Whenever I see things like this, my heart breaks.
It aches for peace.
For justice.

Heavy-hearted, I want to comment or do something but it's hard.  I struggle with what to say.
I don't currently live in the states, I am a privileged white woman.

We're luck we're white.
Lucky to be the majority. We're lucky we're seen as "normal"
We're lucky we don't get stared at every single time we walk into a room.
Lucky that people see us, not a color.
We're lucky we don't get followed by security when we go to the store. 
We're lucky car doors don't get locked when we walk by
We're lucky that it's easier to get a job, a bank loan, and approval in general.
Lucky we don't have our purse searched when we leave the mall,
or have our car searched because we're in the wrong neighborhood

What could I possibly have to say that adds to the conversation?
So while I'll think of Martin Niemöller ...

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

and Elie Wiesel (and especially this week since he just passed away)

Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant

... I only listen.

I'll spend then next few days reading countless articles and opinions, and maybe share a more eloquent friend's facebook status (especially if it's from a S-LC co-worker/alumni).
I'll listen to many of these songs along with Kendrick Lamar's "To Pimp a Butterfly, The Brilliance's
"Brother" and self-titled albums (especially their songs Does Your Heart Break and Mercy), and Macklemore's White Privilege II on repeat.
I listen to the first set of songs to understand, the second to cry out to God.
I listen to "White Privilege II" because I believe it articulates how I feel so well:

I want to take a stance cause we are not free
And then I thought about it, we are not we
Am I in the outside looking in, or am I in the inside looking out?
Is it my place to give my two cents ...

You speak about equality, but do you really mean it?
Are you marching for freedom, or when it's convenient?
Want people to like you, want to be accepted
That's probably why you are out here protesting
Don't think for a second you don't have incentive
Is this about you, well, then what's your intention?
What's the intention? What's the intention? 

... Damn, a lot of opinions, a lot of confusion, a lot of resentment
Some of us scared, some of us defensive
And most of us aren't even paying attention
It seems like we're more concerned with being called racist
Than we actually are with racism
I've heard that silences are action and God knows that I've been passive
What if I actually read a article, actually had a dialogue
Actually looked at myself, actually got involved?
If I'm aware of my privilege and do nothing at all, I don't know...

White supremacy isn't just a white dude in Idaho
White supremacy protects the privilege I hold
White supremacy is the soil, the foundation, the cement and the flag that flies outside of my home
White supremacy is our country's lineage, designed for us to be indifferent ...

We want to dress like, walk like, talk like, dance like, yet we just stand by
We take all we want from black culture, but will we show up for black lives?

... liberation for everyone, and injustice anywhere is still injustice everywhere.
The best thing white people can do is talk to each other.
And having those very difficult, very painful conversations with your parents, with your family members.
I think one of the critical questions for white people in this society is what are you willing to risk,
What are you willing to sacrifice to create a more just society?

The title of this blog is purposeful discomfort. These things should make us uncomfortable, but what do you do with the discomfort? Do you shrug it off, or engage in discussion with others? Do you 'like' someone's eloquent status, or write your own? Do you join in a lament and/or pray for peace and a more just society?

I'm ready to speak up - my silence is a luxury.

What are you willing to sacrifice to create a more just society?