On Race and Love

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Friday I lathered up that sunblock, put on my trusty swimsuit and made out for the splash pad with my husband and my 18 month old niece in tow.  It was a scorching afternoon, with temperatures passing one hundred degrees and not a drop of moisture in sight.  The house wouldn't cool down below eighty, doing anything outside sounded miserable, and our energy was all but zapped to pieces.  So we headed for the splash pad.  A little more than just hosing off in the backyard, but not quite a full on swimming pool, the splash pad seemed the perfect compromise.

Is there anything in the world cuter than a baby's bum?

I just finished reading The Help and I've been following the Treyvon Martin case with interest so I suppose complicated and confusing ideas about race were swirling around somewhere in my head when I saw these two little guys running around the splash pad together.

I don't know all the answers about the tough stuff in life.  I don't know if the verdict on the Treyvon Martin case was correct or not.  I don't know if it was all a big misunderstanding or if it was a hate crime against a minority.  I know none of that.

I do know that all of us adults sit all day long and talk until we're blue in the face.  We argue our side, we get political, we listen to endless news stories about a case like this.  We call it hate, we call it murder, we attack those on the opposing side.  And in the meantime a black and a white kid are just holding hands, running around the water park.  They don't notice the color of the skin.  Why in the world would that even matter?One of my favorite scriptures in the Book of Mormon states that to be saved we must become, "as a child- submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love."  Isn't it weird that those who are the youngest are the best at showing love and understanding?

I felt so much hope for our world when I saw these kids.  To steal a quote from Raven, they know nothing of " hatred, intolerance, racism, bigotry, indoctrination, homophobia, racism and prejudice."  These things are taught to them.  Here's hoping we will be a little less quick to teach them these things.  Here's hope that my children will be more understanding, open minded, and full of love and tolerance than anyone I've met before.

Peace

I think we can all agree that it is difficult to make sense of the shooting on Friday.  I have struggled to find answers.  Human tendency is to seek for something or someone to blame.  Immediately.  There must be fault.  The school security wasn't good enough.  The killer didn't get mental help when he needed it.  There's too much violence in video games.  Gun laws need to be stricter.  We need a solution NOW.

I guess I feel like this is probably part of the grieving process- a desperate attempt to find fault and then to try to immediately work out solutions.  I don't know what the solutions are, but I know they will take time.  Healing is a slow process and the only real healer of tragedy is time.  Lots and lots of time.

And so, I am trying my best to not think of the countless things that must have gone wrong in order to lead up to such a horrific event.  Trying hard to not blame here and not blame there, but instead to just find some sort of peace in the wake of the tragedy.  I am praying for the families of the victims.  Praying that they will feel the love of the entire nation, that they will feel our tears and our hugs and our support, that they will feel peace and eventually acceptance and someday, maybe someday, even forgiveness.

I have heard several remarks that the tragedy is worsened by the fact that it happened around Christmas.  I agree with this and I disagree with this.  Certainly the pang of loss will be felt more sharply on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  Of course.  But hopefully those missing their loved ones so desperately will be comforted during this special time, even moreso than they would be able to during another time of the year.  I pray that they will be able to feel that special spirit of Christmas, and that it can be used as an extra dosage of comfort.  I pray that they can feel God's love an extra amount and understand more fully the miracle that Christ's birth was and is.  I pray that they will feel extra love, extra peace, extra closeness to a loving Heavenly Father.

I went to church yesterday not thinking about pants at all, like I had originally thought I would, but instead hoping to make some sense of the tragedy.  The answer to my prayers came in the form of my sister, who is visiting from California for the week.  She shared with the class that she had found comfort in the third and fourth verse of "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day."  They are so beautiful and so fitting.

And in despair I bowed my head:

"There is no peace on earth," I said,

"For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men."

To end the meeting, we sang one of my favorite hymns, "Be Still My Soul."  Again, I found the lyrics to be so fitting.

(Third and Fourth Verse)

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,

And all is darkened in the vale of tears,

Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,

Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.

Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay

From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on

When we shall be forever with the Lord.

When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past

All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.

I don't know what the answers are, but I do know that the Lord is over all.  I know they He will "repay" that which He has "taken away."  I believe in justice and I believe in mercy.  I believe in hope and love and charity and kindness- even in the midst of such tragedy.  I believe in a day when tears are past.

Somehow in the midst of this terrible event, I have felt incredible peace.  My wish is that all you may feel the same.

P.S.  I will be participating in this tomorrow- a blogger day of silence.