It’s been said, people living in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
Humanity lives in a glasshouse because we are all broken. We all have thrown stones.
We’ve hurt one another. Broken glass slung has shattered the hearts we try to piece back together. Often, the enemy has become the inner me. Justifying our wrongs rather than repenting over them.
Stone after stone thrown are reminders of hurts that have been unhealed. What is unhealed always gets revealed.
Slapping a band-aid on cancer doesn’t make it go away, it just covers up the reality of what is there. Something underlying. Diseased cells. Left to themselves, they will grow and corrupt other parts of the body. Creating more dis-ease.
This is exactly what happens to us when we cover things we don’t inspect.
We need to look at the root to understand the fruit.
Hate comes from somewhere. It’s taught and demonstrated just like love is. Hate can be untaught and unlearned.
We have all hurt someone and had someone has hurt us. Knowingly and unknowingly. This doesn’t give us a pass. We are responsible for the pain we cause someone.
But…
We can right our wrongs. Actions still speak the loudest in the room.
One day at a time. One word at a time. One person at a time.
My Childhood Experience
We had an African American neighbor named Mickey.
At the early age of 2, I had bonded with my new friend. He loved me and I loved Him.
He was friends with my Father and they talked openly about race differences. My dad would be honest with him about how things were wrongly taught in families.
I would often run up to Mickey, crawl up in his lap and drink kool-aid from his big red cup. My Dad watched with big eyes and Mickey would throw his head back laughing.
There were no disparaging comments, no hatefulness between them, just conversations, and learning from one another.
It was an environment of humility and things they both learned about each other’s backstory. My dad learned so much from Mickey.
Me? I was just a little girl who loved Mickey and He loved me. We shared kool-aid and laughter. Giggles and friendship.
A Heart of Yearning
Call me a pie in the sky dreamer but my heart yearns for this today. Aches for this. With racial tensions peaked. Injustices happening. People are fried. They’re tired and hurting.
Silence is a statement. There is a time to speak and not to speak. The time of silence is not when justice needs to be established.
I cannot speak to something I have not walked through. I search for acceptable words, which can’t be found. So, I have tears. Tears that say, I see you. Tears that say, I hear you. We need each other. We need to heal and grow.
Dividing Words
Firestorms of words spoken recklessly divide us even more. Compassion speaks loud when it is gentle and sincere. When we draw near to hear more than speak. To listen and learn.
When someone knows they are heard, it validates them. It’s settling. It provides pathways for peace. To be understood is healing to the soul. The angst and ache start to heal.
Slowly, but little by little restoration starts. Anger starts dissipating, letting go of hurts ushers in a healing balm. Forgiveness begins to flow through the atmosphere of love and humility. Small steps lead to big changes.
Love Is A Bridge
Love can bridge a gap but it still doesn’t un throw a stone. Stones wound, but love can start gathering a chip off a shoulder. One shoulder at a time.
Love can build a bridge instead of a wall. It can neutralize hate, rendering it powerless.
Jesus said they will know you’re my disciples if you have love for one another.
We can have love for each other and bear someone’s burden.
We can have love for one another and still hurt each other.
Daily choosing to forgive others can be a way of life. When Jesus was on the cross, He said,” Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Hurting people will continue to hurt people, but healed people can heal people.
It’s time. We’re tired. Our hearts are weighed down with sorrow and sadness.
Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
- Matthew 11:28-30
Lord, forgive us. Forgive our wrongs and injustices that we tend to justify. When we hurt each other we hurt you. God, we acknowledge our wrong. Start with my heart individually. God do a new thing in all of our lives. Peel away the calloused heart of stone and give us a new heart.