I had an entirely different post planned for today, but to be honest, it didn’t feel right.

After the events of this past weekend in Charlottesville, I feel sick and I have so many thoughts and so many questions… And I’m having a difficult time even scratching the surface for how to articulate them.

I have a tendency to be wordy and try and over-explain myself and my thoughts. I’m a writer by trade, it’s what I do. But today, there are no words that will do any of this justice. There are no words that will heal the hurts and wounds and fears and confusion of my brothers and sisters who are different from me.

So, today, in my acknowledged position of privilege as a white, Christian woman, I leave you with this…

Racism, hatred, terrorism, and extremism are not welcome here. White supremacy is offensive, loathsome, and repulsive. It has to end.

I can’t fix the problems of our world, but I can teach my children about what it really looks like to love our neighbor as ourself. I can listen when I hear my black friends tell me they are scared. I can stand up and say something and say ENOUGH. 

And if your skin color matches mine, it’s also your job to stand up and say something, too. Because silence is complacency.

And if you are reading this and it makes you uncomfortable. Good. I’m glad. Because change happens outside of our comfort zone.

“But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” -1 John 2:11

(If you are asking yourself, “What do I do?” listen to this podcast episode I recorded with my friend Monique Melton… we spent a good portion of the episode talking about racial reconciliation and what that looks like… Monique also shared some very practical ways that we can work towards racial reconciliation and practical steps we can take in our families and our communities. The whole episode is powerful, but our discussion on race starts at the 41:35 mark. Listen here.)