I want to start off by saying that this post is long, but that is because there is a lot to be said about these topics, and if you don't feel like reading it all I seriously don't blame you...but I truly believe that each word I say below is significant. I have had to ask the Lord for forgiveness these past few days. I have so many mixed emotions, opinions, and feelings about the way we have all reacted to the Inauguration, the Women's Marches taking place across the country and world, and the general way we have all responded to each other. I have seen people passionately and boldly standing up for good things like the ideals of loving others and genuine respect, yet I have also seen people firing back on reasonable posts with unreasonable and insulting comments, and have found myself casting judgment on opinions different than my own. When we impulsively react instead of thoughtfully responding, we find ourselves speaking words that aren't truth, are not love, and are most likely not pleasing to the Lord.
This post is not a political one, because that isn't my thing; rather it is about opening our eyes to our blessings from living in America, gaining perspective on issues that are taking place around the world, and how we can respond in times of disagreement. But, I do want to be transparent that I didn't vote for Donald Trump and I also did not vote for Hillary Clinton- so no one can hold that for or against me. I voted for Beyonce, jk thats a lie-I voted for Harambe-also a lie.)
Blessings from living in America: One of my very best friends, Maggie, has been living in Albania for almost 6 months and she texted me this weekend with an great response to the blessings of being an American.
"We are so lucky to be Americans and have access to education, other countries, resources in healthcare regardless of the system, and normal jobs. So many freaking countries don't have any other that stuff at all and they would kill to be an American...It's taken me to be over here working with kids who are the tiny slim of Albania's population that will actually get a real education when 100% of America gets that. Whichever candidate was elected president, I would still be proud to be an American and blessed because we live in a world created by our Lord."
Every 4 years when the president is sworn in, regardless of what they may or may not be in favor of, we can take time to be thankful that we live in America, a country with bountiful opportunity. When statistics from developing countries are contrasted with those of America, I am alway instantly humbled of any complaints I have as a woman in America.
Gaining perspective on issues taking place around the world: I do not want to discount issues in America that are worth fighting for and valid. I believe that we are called to show love to one another as Christ loved us, that we should treat each other as we want to be treated-with dignity and respect, and that we are all entitled to our opinions and the expression of them as long is it is done in a manner that is not diminishing to those who may disagree.
However, when I read books like Half the Sky that give detailed accounts of injustices around the world, I cannot help but think that there are bigger issues that we often do not pay nearly enough attention to. In America, women are expressing that they want the choice whether or not to have an abortion. In India, many pregnant women will get ultrasounds to find out the sex of their babies and then get abortions if they find out they are female. According to Half the Sky, the best estimate is that an Indian girl dies from discrimination every four minutes. These are the issues that turn my stomach. I, personally, am not okay with terminating the life of a baby wth a heart beat in its mother's womb, and I am passionately burdened when I hear that there are countries conducting abortions simply because they find out their child is a girl. To me, this is truly a women's rights issue worth fighting against.
“It appears that more girls have been killed in the last fifty years, precisely because they were girls, than men were killed in all the wars of the twentieth century. More girls are killed in this routine “gendercide” in any one decade than people were slaughtered in all the genocides of the twentieth century.”- Half the Sky
And unfortunately, the list of these injustices goes on and on. Afghanistan - unequal education rights. Pakistan - where gang rape is prevalent. Sub-Saharan Africa - HIV/AIDs rates are through the roof. Bangladesh - probably the most infamous country for sex trafficking. I would encourage anyone passionate about women's rights to read Half the Sky, as it has truly opened my eyes to the gruesome treatment that women of all ages around the world are experiencing every day and has motivated me to want to seek out ways I can contribute and make a difference.
How we can respond in times of disagreement: So what now? We all have opinions and don't want our responses to lose their passion, yet how do we keep ourselves from having a Madea-esk freakout on our friends who may hold views different than us?
My life long best friend, Catherine, was raised in a very similar environment as me..... middle class, white, loving families, Christians, South Carolina....brown hair, same height, same exact weight at one point - literally we are twins. But she spent her Saturday at the Women's March in DC while I, admittedly, scoffed to myself at people I saw in New York with signs saying, "eradicate men". But instead of attacking each other for our differences in opinions or silently keeping our thoughts to ourselves, we decided to call each other and exchange ideas in a civil and respectful manner.
As I listened to Catherine's first hand account of her time at the Women's March, I couldn't help but love that she said, "The main theme I saw yesterday was kindness." I asked her questions and learned a lot from what she had to say. My hope is that I would grow better at having conversations where I listen and learn from people who may have a different stance than me. It is less about being persuaded to change your opinions, and more about understanding someone else's point of view.
It is imperative that we, as a country, realize that being unified does not look like tearing down opinions different than our own in attempts for everyone to think identically. If we speak about differences of beliefs in a kind manner, people will listen and we will learn from each other.
Talking with Catherine today, the Lord pressed on my heart that we live in an already-not-yet-world. We already have access to the father through Jesus and can receive forgiveness and assurance of eternal life, but until the day Jesus returns, we won't see oppression and injustice totally wiped away because there is still sin in this fallen world. Reading stories of 8-year-old girls in Bangladesh having their virginity taken completely breaks me down and urges me all the more to pray for the day Jesus comes back.
I wrestle with my morals and faith when I try to form concrete opinions on issues that are so multi-sided. I get frustrated, just wanting every to love each other and the issues to be solved. But until Jesus makes his return, I just need to love my neighbor and cling to the promises in Revelation 21 which says "And God himself shall be with them, and be their God: and he will wipe every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall their be mourning, not crying, nor pain, for the old other of things has passed away. For behold, I am making all things new!"
If you made it all the way to the end of this post, CONGRATS...if I didn't live in NYC and have crazy expensive rent I would totally buy you the McFlurry though. Feel free to comment, I'd love to hear your opinion, maybe I can learn from our differences or be excited about our similarities...but please only comment with words that are loving and kind. Thank ya! xoxo
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