Today, we stand arm-in-arm with those who are pursuing justice following the heartbreaking losses of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and far too many other people of color who, generation after generation, have lost their lives to racism, marginalization, bigotry, and injustice. The tragic loss of their lives and the ongoing lack of liberty and equality for people of color are painful reminders that we must do more to achieve justice for all. We are all God’s children and black lives matter.

There are times when I want the whole world to stop for just one second so that I can get my bearings. But change is ever-present, and the needs of the moment continue to batter my psyche. Whether I have relational stress because of getting together with family for the holidays, or financial stress because I’ve overextended myself, or environmental stress from living in a world that badgers me about the things I should care about during the holidays—our lives are made harder by media and people beckoning us to the shoals of dark distraction.

More and more Christians need to take responsibility by just being present to recognize that the disparity isn’t just God’s blessing. There is a lot of injustice that results in that. We need to think about, to really ask the question, what does it mean to be a great city? Or a great community? Does it mean certain people can make the city their playground or is it a place where everyone has an opportunity to participate and to be part of the rising tide of what’s going on economically?