Making a Mess of Things

Hey God,It's me again. We've been making a mess of things down here.Lord, we strive to be holy, but continually fall short. We want to cast stones upon our brothers for the wrongs they do when we deserve to be stoned as well.

We can't force your way of thinking on others, but we can respect others and love them anyway.I can't imagine what it's like to be a white cop - trying to protect themselves and others without having someone casting blame on them for whatever the results might be. I can't imagine what it's like to be black - the first ones accused and the last to be given second chances. I can't imagine the anger that has fueled both whites and blacks to hate one another so much that that they resort to violence and murder.

All I know is that this hate needs to stop. The shootings need to stop. It's not going to stop by force though. Each man and woman needs to make their own choice. They need to choose to respect one another despite their differences in skin color, religion, sexual orientation, etc. It doesn't mean we have to agree on everything though.  We were all created in God's image and we are all called to love one another. The Bible indicates that we should love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

We need to choose to love each other as Jesus has called us to love our neighbors. We need to forgive one another not once or twice, but seven times seventy seven times. It doesn't mean we have to forget the wrongs done to us, but choosing to forgive ....choosing to respect... and choosing to love will start the healing.It doesn't mean we overlook sin, but that we give each other second chances. It doesn't mean we have to fully trust everyone, but that a little trust in the goodness that everyone is capable of might trump the wrongdoings and the pain.