While I have always tried to avoid commenting on specific news items in these articles, my heart compels me to convey my prayers and condolences to the families of George Floyd; I pray that they, and so many others, will find some measure of comfort and strength through all this pain.
Stories of the massive marches across North America and around the world are powerful but it was several news items that cheered my heart and inspired these words. The first, a photo of a lone police officer kneeling beside a marching crowd; the next, a group of officers kneeling on the steps of their headquarters building; and the third, a photo and story that appeared on Facebook several weeks ago.
A U.S. newspaper carried the story and I quote some of that piece: “Police in Fayetteville, North Carolina, made a surprising move Monday during a tense stand off with protesters seeking justice in the case of George Floyd, who died after being restrained by police in Minneapolis. All 60-plus officers knelt before the marchers….‘As a show of understanding of the pain that is in our community and our nation regarding equality, the… Police Department took a knee to show that we also stand for justice for everyone,’ We are committed to listening and treating everyone with dignity and respect.’ Witnesses say some officers and protesters responded to the move with tears.”
I, too, was moved to tears as I asked God to move my and our hearts to kneel together in prayer while facing any and all of life’s challenges. How many inter-personal, family, church and community conflicts do we address first on our knees?
“When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action.” (Matthew 18:18-20)
