There’s a lot of bad news in the headlines lately. Refugees in crisis, terrorism lurking around every corner, less-than-admirable politicians, heroine addiction taking one life after another, continued trafficking of human beings, routine traffic stops ending in death, a racial divide that seems to be widening instead of healing, the organized, pre-meditated slaughter of cops in Dallas… I could go on, I know. These devastating headlines seem to just keep coming. It feels crushing at times, doesn’t it? But, the truth is, there’s nothing new under the sun. We have been being cruel to each other since our earliest days.
But knowing that doesn’t really make it any easier does it? It doesn’t ease the angst we feel when we wake up to more bad news. My fear is that in the midst of all the crap going on in our world today, it’s easy to point the finger at all the junk “out there.” As if all the yuck is in all the other people – not me or you. That you or I would NEVER be a bad cop or shoot up an LGBT bar or lie about doing something shady/illegal or get addicted to heroine or get sassy with a cop or make a selfish decision that takes advantage of someone else or profile another human being based on skin or age or socio-economic status or religion.
Maybe it’s time for us to stop looking at all the nasty stuff “out there.” Maybe it’s time for us to stop making sweeping statements about complex issues and instead reflect inward. Please join me in using current events to go before the Lord and ask Him to search OUR hearts. I’m going to ask Him to try MY heart and see if there be ANY wicked way in me. Is there any root of racism or violence or instability or self-protection or hatred or rebelliousness that is embedded in the recesses of my own heart?
I like to think that I would always be on the right side of history – that I would have helped slaves along the underground railroad or that I would have protected Jews from the Nazis. I never think that I would have been on of the one’s standing by. I rarely assume I would be the Jew or slave in need of help. And, I definitely never think I would have been one of the perpetrators.
But, the truth is, we all have some of the yuck in us. Only God’s grace can remove it. And, even then, we still live in these broken vessels with our mixed motives. We need to examine our hearts before Him regularly because sin is deceptive. We are susceptible to believing its lures. Every one of us.
Here’s the thing: I don’t really know what was going on in the heart and mind of Alton Sterling or the cop who shot him. But, I do know what goes on in my heart and mind. That I can examine with humility and brokenness.
Join me in praying for our world, yes. Absolutely. It’s a mess out there.
But, also in praying for transformation in OUR own hearts. Because, let’s be honest. The mess isn’t just out there.
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