"Complacency is a form of racism."
I read these words and cringe.
I have marched in protests in the past,
linked arms with Jesus (in many forms),
supported his call for justice for all people.
I have walked in Denver's annual
Martin Luther King, Jr. Marade.
I wanted to march again
after the murder of George Floyd,
but did not over COVID-19 concerns
and my slow recovery from back surgery;
both put me at higher risk.
But when I read again the statement,
Complacency is a form of racism,
it continues to hit home,
and like any blow to the psyche,
it hits with some pain.
"It's not happening here," we say.
"We're not really affected.
Let's just change the channel."
Or maybe,
"Gosh, that's too bad what those people are going through;
someone should really do something about it."
Or possibly,
"This is how it's always been;
what can we do?"
And we return to our routine.
Complacency is a form of racism.
We avert our eyes.
We shutter our hearts.
We damage our souls.
There's no neutrality here,
no middle place of inaction.
I am either a racist
or an anti-racist.
In Revelation 3:15-17,
John warns us of this:
"You are neither hot nor cold,
and I spit you out."
He's easy to paraphrase:
I am white. I have a comfortable life.
I need nothing else.
Ptui!
Complacency...silence...willful ignorance--
all are forms of racism.
Complacency is a form of racism.
Lord, save me from complacency.
Text and image © 2020 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.
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