I Want to Wake Up
I want to wake up in a world without hate. I want to wake up in a world where black men are not murdered by police officers. I want to wake up in a world where police officers are not having to deal with dangerous mobs. I want to wake up in a world where we see clearly who is working toward justice, and who is fueling fear. I want to wake up in a world where we do not have to worry about infecting each other with a deadly virus. I want to wake up in a world where we can comfort each other in person. I want to be able to go to sleep and not have to think about saying the right words to help people through all of this. So I don't go to sleep, because when I wake up the world will not be what I want it to be.
I have hope.. the sun will come up. We can check on our vulnerable friends. We can show our support where positive things are happening. We can speak up and not be afraid.
But when it is dark outside, and I am supposed to be able to rest... if I say "I can't breathe" then I think about George Floyd. If I say, "I can't breathe" then I think about the covid-19 patients dying alone. If I say, "I can't breathe" it is because sometimes the troubles in the world are suffocating.
When it is light out I will check my messages. I have reached out to my friends who are police officers, and I have reached out to my friends who are leaders in the African-American community. I hope that there are solutions that allow me to help, and that actually make a difference. I have reached out to my friends in the medical world to see how to keep my congregation safe and to keep my family safe. I also reach out to congregants and friends. The more I reach out, the more it helps me to breathe.
I want to wake up to a day with a new start. I want to "not stand idly by while my neighbor bleeds." I want to find a way so that "none shall make them afraid." It is difficult to go to sleep, because I don't know how to make the new day be a new day.