Yes, I want people to love the bodies they have,
and I value taking good care of the one we're given.
Yes, I believe in white privilege,
and I'm weary of the aggression towards Caucasian men and women on account of it.
Yes, I support peaceful protests of kneeling during the national anthem,
and I wish there was greater sensitivity to the offense some veterans feel during the same.
Yes, I fight for love across gender boundaries and societal norms,
and I am convinced that a church must be able to uphold differing convictions.
Yes, I want to fill this world with hearts willing to share and give generously,
and I will resist any entitlement that demands compliance with the ideal.
Yes, we can disagree,
and we can still find validity in the perspective of our opponent.
Stop believing you must pick one side or the other. We are not confined to the black and white polarity present at every turn on Facebook, in the news, coming from the pulpit and screaming from the streets.
Yes, there are clearly many who have decided that it must be one extreme or the other,
and far too many others have bought the lie - hook, line and sinker.
There are Black men and women who have decided their lot is settled on account of the horrible mistreatment of their ancestors. There are Black men and women shaming every Caucasian as they fight their way to the top. But there are many who see the systemic flaws, understand the lot which has placed them at a disadvantage and yet make genuine effort to pursue prosperity without accusing anyone on the way.
Yes, this country was founded on the acceptance of division and supremacy,
and we do not have to live the same legacy of our ancestors - no matter what the skin color.
There are white men and women who are convinced they have suffered more than any Black man or woman; they see no real evidence for white supremacy. There are white men and women now convinced that the only appropriate societal response is to criticize their own race at every turn. And there are others who see the privilege their skin color has granted them, though it may not have been enough to protect them from the hands of their abuser as a child.
Everyone has a story.
Something happened in each person's life to develop the perspective now being expressed. Ask for the story. Instead of making another accusation, make every effort to heal your relationship to the person in front of you. All the systematic change in the world will never soften a heart. Tender love expressed in a genuine friendship is the only cure for pain of the soul.
Yes, far too many people are seeking vengeance, ready to start a fight with a moment's notice,
and they, too, have a story.
Your story doesn't excuse your behavior. It doesn't validate your disdain for particular people, groups or situations. But it has undeniably developed your perspective - your worldview.
Own your story. Recognize how the stories of your friends and family have impacted yours and certainly affected how you view the world, but remember that their story is not your own.
You get to choose how your experience moves you. Do not be a victim to this world. Rise above. Expect great things of yourself. Develop your inner strength. And do this fervently so that in the moment when you see how someone else's story has contributed to their weakness, you can share your strength rather than try to take any they may have had left.
Yes, this world is broken, full of evil intent and broken systems,
and regardless of your story, you have the power to evoke change by seeking the perspective of the man you think is your enemy.
"The heartfelt compassion that hastens forgiveness matures
when we discover where our enemy cries."
- Brennan Manning
