I Might Be a Coward
I have been thinking a lot about what is happening in our communities, and it breaks my heart how much this country has changed since I first arrived 42 years ago. It has made me reflect on my own role
in the world-and how I choose to respond to what I see unfolding around me.
I don't go to demonstrations. Maybe that makes me a coward.
It's not because I'm afraid of confrontation. I'm not. But I am cautious about being pigeonholed. I don't want to become a headline or a photo-an image that captures a moment of reaction but misses the depth of my character and convictions.
More than that, I wrestle with how effective demonstrations really are. Systems are complicated. It's one thing to stand on a street corner holding a sign that says, "Save the baby." It's another thing entirely to walk alongside a single mother for the next 18 years and help her raise that child.
It's one thing to demonstrate around immigration issues-but the reality is, we still want cheap food, neatly mowed lawns, and tacos at a reasonable price.
It's one thing to demonstrate for equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community-but are we willing to hire people who are different from us?
It's easy to chant "Black lives matter," but if we continue labeling children in school, or regulating what kind of hair adults can wear at work, do we really mean it?
We march for prison reform, yet we don't want those people living in our neighborhoods.
The list just goes on.
It is easy to stand up for something when it costs me very little-a few hours of time, maybe being yelled at, maybe a photo posted online. It is much harder to commit to being part of a long-term
solution.
If I am pro-life, then I cannot complain when a child cries in church or acts out in the grocery store. I
need to befriend a single mom and walk with her-really walk with her.
If I care about just immigration laws and processes, I need to be willing to pay higher prices at the
grocery store. I need to advocate for healthcare access for children. I need to learn cultures, honor customs, celebrate differences, and help people navigate the long and complicated process of becoming legal.
If I believe in equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community, I need to listen to their stories, support their choices-even when they are not my choices-and honor them as I would honor any other person.
If I say that Black lives matter, then I need to be part of interrupting the school-to-prison pipeline, supporting families, and honoring people for the complexity of their journeys.
Pick a topic. Any topic.
And instead of condemning people or systems from a distance, dig a little deeper. Stay in the room with difference. Do your part to help people succeed.
So maybe I am a coward for not going to demonstrations.
But I hope my life reflects a deeper commitment-to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God
(Micah 6:8).