I don’t know if I even have words to create this post. As if 2020 hasn’t been horrible enough…

This past week has been one filled with tragedy. I’m sure most of you have heard of the senseless murder of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis and the ensuing riots.  Our city is burning….destroying itself.  I don’t live in the city proper but I live in the Twin Cities metro. Not more than a 20 min drive from the epicenter. I have friends and family that live in the city. I fear for them. The past 2 nights I feared for us as well. Hate groups meaning to cause anarchy (not effect to change) were said to be moving out into the suburbs in order to avoid the National Guard troops that have been deployed into the city.

I grieve for George Floyd. For his family. I can’t imagine that this is what he would have wanted to happen in his name….meaning the destruction of the city. Yes…raise our voices. Demand change. Rage against an unjust system that targets people based upon the color of their skin, ethnic group or religion. It hurts my heart. It makes me cry for them.

I grew up attending an inner-city church in a rough neighborhood of Minneapolis not very far from the riots. There were drug deals, prostitution, and violence surrounding the church yet we welcomed all. It was a place of refuge. Of love. Of faith. No judgement.

We are not born to hate…that is taught.

I choose love.