I wrote earlier in connection with the racial challenges we’re facing now about my friend and former pastor John Ed Mathison of Montgomery, AL. At the time, he hadn’t finished his four-part series (with six main (alliterative, of course) points. It’s worth revisiting. Here’s John Ed’s summary:

To summarize – I’m listening to God and people – I’m learning what God can do – I’m leaning on God for strength and direction – I’m striving to love all people – I’m looking for ways to lift people – I’m standing up to lead. This is what I can do.  What’s your plan of action? -John Ed Mathison, July 1, 2020, https://johnedmathison.org/blog/

You can read John Ed’s whole series beginning here.

Listening is big – being willing to hear from people different from you. This blog, written on June 3, contains comments from African-American friends of mine, both in Christian ministry, both walking with God and helping others do the same. One said, “This is everyday life for black men in America.” The other said, “It’s a very very tough journey.”

I have a friend who seems to want to find out about all the sinister forces involved in the demonstrations and riots and thereby negate (I think) the message that some of us white folks need to hear. I told him, “Just because anarchists, ‘Communists,’ etc., are using the discontent as an opportunity to escalate and destabilize, doesn’t mean there aren’t legitimate grievances.”

I believe John Ed has given us a good road map: listen, learn, lean on God, love everyone, lift people up, and lead.

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (Galatians 5.13 – 16, NIV)