Same Last Words, Same Pre-existing Conditions, and a Birthday (George Floyd, Eric Garner, Erica Garner)

Erica Garner’s birthday was May 29. She would have turned 30. In honor of her birthday, and her tireless striving for justice, I wanted to share this spoken word in its entirety, my thoughts on God’s heart as life ends. Weeping. Doubly so when life ends because of an abuse of power by those in authority. The word was originally written her father. Unfortunately, it can easily apply to George Floyd who died in police custody this week. The pre-existing condition that took Eric Garner, and Philando Castile, and George Floyd, and Erica Garner and the grossly overrepresented percentage of African Americans who have contracted and died of Covid-19 and who have become slaves of the carceral state, the same pre-existing condition that was weaponized by Amy Cooper to threaten the life of Christian Cooper, was, and is the condemnation of blackness in a society steeped in white supremacy, and the extreme vulnerability that belongs to poor and low wealth communities in America. I explore these pre-existing conditions and some of their outcomes.

May 31, 2020 4

Heroes Slain. Remember. Lament. (Calvin Munerlyn, Breonna Taylor)

As we continue longing for the Kingdom, and loving the King, we acknowledge living in the already and the not yet. We cry out for His Kingdom come and Will be done, even as Home feels far away. I wanted to take a moment to remember the stories of Calvin Munerlyn and Breonna Taylor, and lament. These are individuals considered heroes in this Covid-19 era. They were killed by those who they were trying to protect, and by those who should have been their allies. I take a look at Christian rapper Thi'sl's own encounter with violence and recognize that the same ones we might sacrifice for and long to minister to, might come to do us harm.

May 24, 2020 0

February 23rd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Heaven Feels Far

On February 23, 2020 I had an amazing worship experience. Heaven felt so close. I really felt like I was not far from my true Home. The experience brought tears to my eyes. About 3 miles from his home, Ahmaud Arbery was killed. On February 23 I felt like heaven was so close. Then I see what happened on February 23, and what didn't happen for two plus months, and heaven feels so far. But I realize, again, that God is not only found in our joyous moments. Looking at the Holy Place in the Tabernacle of Moses leads me to believe, again, that God also invites us to meet with Him in dark days of lament and mourning over violence. There is a space for us before the Lord in our pain.

May 10, 2020 0

Of Love and Our Lion and His Love

The Lion of Judah, He cameThe Son set down in our world,and still He reignedOur infatuation with killingextended to HimHe was slain All that He made will get this redemption, it's finally reclaimed, we'll sing Somebody told me,I won't need a shoulder to weep on,no more tearsSomebody told me,I ain't gotta hold no heatain't no... Continue Reading →

May 3, 2020 0

Of Lions and of Fear… and that one time I was in a lions’ den.

In Laments in Midlothian, I tried to cover some of the factors that contribute to the systemic and disproportionate abuse of black American citizens at the hands of law enforcement. The writing was birthed from observing the pain of loved ones of the deceased, and shifted focus to the spiritual wickedness in high places that rejoices in that pain, and provisions for its occasion. The poems of that series introduced some concepts that I will delve into deeper. This is part one of that commentary.

March 8, 2020

What God Feels Like

Kendrick Lamar supposes “what God feel like” on the song “GOD.” from the album Damn., one of the biggest albums of 2017. When the album was released back in April (on good Friday no less), this was one of the songs I listened to again and again and again.

December 24, 2017 1