My heart is so hurt right now for our broken world. For days I have not had the “right” words. Each day that goes by I feel more and more that there are no “right” words to fix the racist injustices within our culture. The pain is so deep within the wounded communities that sometimes I don’t feel like I could possibly do anything to console it.

What I have learned over these last few days is that I truly don’t know this pain, but I am making efforts to understand it better. I can reach out to people that are different than me and let them know I love them deeply and start the difficult conversations. The very simple gestures I have offered have shown me how deep the pain runs.  The simple exchanges have driven me to understand that I may never truly understand, but it matters immensely that I try. We all need to start the hard conversations and listen to each other better with the goal of learning to love better, even if we have never knowingly added to racism.

We need to love deeply. I do believe God wants us to draw close to each other and I pray that we will have the courage to do so.  Today, I challenge you to reach out in new ways to those that have pain that you don’t understand. Right now I don’t think more of my words are helpful; besides the simple gestures of love speak volumes. 

1 Peter 4:8-11 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.