what you give shall be measured back to you...

For over a week, there has been so much anger and violence happening in Ferguson, Missouri. There have been riots, lootings, killings all of which began with the shooting of a black man by a white police officer, which lead to that man's death.

To look at the film on the evening news, it reminds me of the race riots back in Detroit in the late 60's. Or it could even be what is happening in the Mid East today.

Who among that crowd is calling out for peace? Who among that crowd believes that peace is even possible? How can the breaking, entering and eventual destruction of the businesses that are suffering such huge losses have anything at all to do with the initial issue?

Black. White. One would think it's an either/or situation. I had thought that our country had worked itself past that back in the 60's. Why does color even need to be a factor in anything any longer?
What are your reactions to this? Stop and really be honest with yourself. Do you use racial slurs? Do you look down at another person of a different race? Is your perception of them changed due to their station in life? For example, if you see them living in luxury versus living in poverty, what are you thinking about them?

 



How about if those barriers are crossed...and crossed out? Oh my goodness, Jesus did NOT look down on anyone? He told stories about Samaritans, who were so reviled at that time, helping Jews. He lifted an adulteress out of the pit from which she would have been stoned. He spoke to the woman at the well. He ate with tax collectors--oh! the horrors! He went fishing with common folk. In his stories, he always used the fishermen, the shepherds, the people who worked the vineyards, and why...? Because the people that he dealt with were the regular people of that region who could understand and accept Him as one of their own. Not once did he revile anyone. Not once.

 ^"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38

I cannot believe that creating chaos will make things any less painful. Because of what happened to one man....a whole town has been suffering. There are even those who are traveling to this town, just to take part in creating even more chaos. How can suffering bring about peace, I ask you again. Walk in the shoes of this town. Feel the pain of those who live there. True justice will not take place until peace can be restored.

How can you be a peaceful person? It is simple. Be like Jesus. Every day and in every way. If you see someone who is down, raise them up. If you see poverty, how can you create wealth? If you see pain, what can you do to create harmony? You see, waiting for someone else to do it is such a waste of time. All it takes is for one person to stand up and act. That's it! Just one person to stand up and be, act, say, do. Look at how much discord there is in Missouri...all because one person chose to act negatively. Now, turn that idea around...think of the results of one person acting positively! Oh my...like a rolling piece of ice, it gathers momentum until it gets bigger and larger and what do you have? A situation that has snowballed into something so good and wonderful!
Which side of that scenario do you want to be on....good...or bad?