"Forsaking the Shame and Loving in the Midst of Sin"
It’s the 21st century. I thought
It’s the 21st century. I thought
We were past this.
I believed that things had
changed.
At least…certainly
Among those who worship the
same
God. How could I know?
My heart aches from the
hatred, ignorance,
Or disdain; the
disillusioned thoughts
They hold of reality.
Enough of the pointing
fingers.
Haven’t we done enough
Already? What good has it done?
I do wish things were
different.
Rather than carrying the old
sentiments
Of the past, we could decide
to learn from them.
If only we could get past
this judgment
Of one another…based off the
color of skin
And the stories we have
heard.
Yet, it is not so at this
moment.
But what could I do?
God, reckon my heart.
Yield its emotions toward
Your redemption
And restore the sanctity of
forgiveness.
I have been pained for a
People
Who hear more words of death
than life;
Who, though the first of
the land,
Have subsequently become the
last on our minds.
The more my thoughts think
of the offense,
The deeper my frustration…
And without any logical
consent,
I, then, join in the dumping
of mud
That has become cyclical…
Racism. Such a dirty thing.
The paradox of it all:
Unity of the Body has become
broken
Because the past hurts and
stereotypes
Are welcomed beyond that of
a handshake.
And I judged.
And I withheld love,
Because, as I justified,
“How dare they who love You
Undignify those who were
created in the image of You;
As in the same way as we?”
But I was wrong.
As heartbreaking as it is to
admit
This sin, it is no greater
or less
Than the ones committed in
the past.
As horrendous the hypocrisy,
Truth is, those who are in
the wrong
Know not what they do…
They are only spouting off
what they heard.
How could they know anything
else?
Forgive them, Lord.
For even the blood of Christ
was shed
For even the most offensive
of wrongs.
I cannot hold onto what You
have pardoned.
I do ask for a renewing of
their minds.
I do ask that You would
bring truth to their understanding.
But rather than my zealous
words imparting,
I will trust You will do
it.
Your hand must be the one to
clean the water.
Hatred has stirred enough
dirt to poison the hearts of generations.
We have not allowed
ourselves to move past these hurts,
For we have sought after justification
with
Our own guilt-ridden
hands.
For none are righteous. Each of us
are as filthy rags…
Nevertheless, You make all
things new.
Lastly, this blame I bear
can no longer be my own.
The hidden sin I fear to have tainted my name
Must be forgiven, healed;
This shame has to be
forsaken.
This weight no longer is
mine, for I am not defined
By what the faces of my ancestry
have committed.
You make all things new, and
that includes
My being, my heritage, and
my name.
You decided to keep no
records of wrong -
Not of my accord. May I forgive the sin unknown
And love through the midst
of it.
