Perhaps because one of my primary love languages is “acts of service”, those who serve and do things I am unable or unwilling to do have my utmost respect and deepest gratitude. In fact, every time I walk up to someone in military attire to shake their hand and thank them, I cry because I am deeply touched and profoundly grateful for what they do...for me. Military, police, fire fighters, EMS, etc. all amaze me for their bravery and sacrifice! John 15:13 says there’s no greater love than to lay your life down for a friend. But, to me, these heroes go far beyond this level of love in that they are even willing to lay down their lives for strangers and, unfortunately, in the current state of our country, even for potential enemies. Although I cannot imagine the mindset of those who are so angry and frustrated with the police force, for I’ve never walked in their shoes, my heart is breaking for the repeated taking of police life that is happening across our nation! The fact that someone would deliberately take the life of one of these brave self-sacrificing souls out of their own frustration, hurt, anger, and or/hate literally brings me to tears.
Again, I cannot express the depth of gratitude that I have for all who train and serve! Are they perfect? Heavens, no. They are completely human, flawed, and prone to the same weaknesses, prejudices, and fears that we must all battle. However, I cannot condone the cowardice of this random violence, these decisions to become judge and jury and pick off the police one-by-one, stripping families of husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters, as well as friends. I respect the motivation of justice and change, and my heart breaks for every mother who has lost a son to a police bullet, regardless of the circumstances. I can only imagine such a loss, but this is not the solution.
In addition, I am truly disgusted by a media that exploits this pain for ratings, who constantly stirs the proverbial pot and sensationalizes beyond common sense for selfish cause – greed and personal gain. To further complicate things, we live in an age where there is such a sad lack of personal responsibility. The enemy of our souls has so deflected our mindset from a place of power through responsibility that too many have learned to blame, shout accusations, and even turn to violence in an attempt to be heard. Sadly, though, the message being heard is not the desired one or the required one. It’s not a message that is changing outcomes or causing positive discourse. Instead, we are left with more division, hatred, destruction, and pain in the wake.
All I can tell you with complete certainty today, and I wish I could shout it from the mountaintops, is that YOUR LIFE MATTERS! It matters to God, it matters to me, and it matters today! No matter what your neighbor, your family, your coworkers, your local police force, the media, or the president of the United States thinks about you, there is a God in heaven Who created you, fashioned you with purpose, and loved you enough to send His only Son, Jesus, to die for you. Because I love Him, your life matters to me, and, because of your inherent value to God, your life matters today. No matter what your background, the color of your skin, your contribution to society or the lack thereof, or what you have or have not done in your life up until this point, Your Life Matters. That being said, the same is true of every human being you encounter. There is plan and purpose in our DNA.
So, my heart’s cry today to my nation is “please stop taking life”! Stop the killing…all of it! I say it to the angry man of color who is full of hatred and frustration. I say it to the police officer who understandably fears for his own life. I say it to the young mother who is pregnant and afraid. I shout it to a nation that was once under God and indivisible (unable to be divided). Please stop the killing! Heaven is grieving, and we are only playing into the hands of the enemy of our souls who has set our hearts against one another.
Yes, we must find a way for peaceful discourse and effective change, but it will never be initiated through death but only through valuing life. So, I pray that it will begin to resonate in your soul that Your Life Matters because, once it does, I believe we will all begin to once again value the lives of our fellow man. And, when that happens, America can again become the shining light that it once was. My heartfelt prayer is “Father, make us one”!