Racism Is A Pandemic

Where there is no love there is no understanding.

― Oscar Wilde

I've had multiple mothers, fathers, uncles, brothers, sisters, coaches, friends, pastors, mentors, and teachers of many subjects.

I've been fed and clothed through the kindness of others, rescued from abuse, troubling circumstances, and sheltered from many a harsh storm.

I've had my many wounds treated, soothed, and repaired, and they have been addressed with great attention, balm, and tenderness.

I've been lifted up emotionally, clearly taught right from wrong, and shown unconditional love too many times to recount.

All of this has been an anchor against anger, despair, doubt, fear, frustration, insecurity, the loss of hope, and possible self-destruction.

What this has revealed most profoundly to me is that for people that believe that a higher power, "a power greater than ourselves," Father God or Mother God exists and remains active in the world, it is in their presence that we can usually find an abundance of acceptance, calm, empathy, generosity, hospitality, kindness, nurturing, peacefulness, safety, understanding, and wisdom.

However, in some places and spaces, chronic racism has taken hold, and the best human qualities and expressions of divine grace are not present. These settings are commonly found to be cold, empty, or spirit-less. As a result, people are left to their own druthers, struggling, lonely, hungry, fighting and clawing in uttermost darkness. Absent of any measure of light and loving concern.

To me, this is the most damaging preexisting pandemic that our country is confronting, and it will have to be treated and eradicated before we can seriously and resolutely take on the other disturbing dilemmas of modern life.

More often than not, our own worst enemy is our flagrant selfishness.