(Yes, the Bible reading is going on, but today’s post is different).
I watched Dr. Brian H. Williams, a trauma surgeon who attended the wounded police officers in Dallas Texas, and I began to cry.
“I do not understand why people think it is okay to kill police officers,” he said, holding back tears. “I don’t understand why black men die in custody and they are forgotten the next day. I don’t know why this has to be ‘us’ against ‘them.’ This all, really, has to stop,” he concluded
I can tell you why I am crying. It is because this affects all of us. We cannot wish it away. It is not ‘out there somewhere.’ It is my children, my family, my friends, my nation and my world.
I am crying because not too many people want to address this issue. Not even the church. It is messy; it is ugly; it is divisive.
But this is a problem that we cannot just push away. Whether it is in the streets of US cities or the capitol of Juba in South Sudan where the President’s tribe and the Vice-president’s tribe are at it again, killing indiscriminately, or in South Africa where some of the blacks feel that they should forcefully take back the land owned by the white minority . . . Wherever it is, the events tell us that ours is a broken world. A hurting world. A world that seems to be racing toward self-destruction.
This is not the world we want to leave for our children and future generations. We must do something now to turn the tide.
It begins where we are. It might begin, like Dr. Williams, with tears on public television; a sermon in the local church; a visit in the neighboring community; a prayer vigil; a meal with a stranger.
Each of us needs to ask God to show us which step He wants us to take… then please take it!
~ Ibrahim
Omondis In Kenya 
Thanks for this thoughtful post.
Just some statistics around the South African situation you mentioned, here is some recent commentary from a respected and non-partisan South African journalist on the land issue:
“We still hear the old story of 87% of South Africa’s land being in white hands, but the truth is that only 67% of our land surface is in the hands of private commercial farmers.
Government hasn’t done a proper, credible land audit, but indications are that about a third of this is already owned by black people. This is a result of the state’s land reform that has transferred about eight million hectare to black owners, of reform initiated by white farmers and agribusiness and of black people buying farms with their own money.
It was reported just last week that about 300 000 hectares of farmland were bought by black owners during the twelve months ending in March 2016.” (Max du Preez)
Thank you SO MUCH for this correction, James. I should have checked the stats before publishing. . . a good lesson. And we thank God that the challenge is being addressed there in South Africa. Many blessings to you!
I loved the post. It is brief, on the spot and compelling!
Each one of us can, indeed must start where we are! For there, Father waits on us to become the expressions of His love to a hurting, broken world! And what depths of brokenness we are witnessing today! This is the moment to make a difference share His love and hope.