June 2020

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FACING RACIAL INJUSTICE

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These last couple weeks have been hard to say the least. My heart breaks for those experiencing racism and trauma. I was hesitant to talk about the events taking place. How do I “say the right things”? How do I express my sadness fully and accurately? What am I supposed to do about it? Am I crossing an invisible line? Then I dove into the Word. I wanted to see what God said. I read Lamentations 3 and it paints this clear picture of what has taken place for George Floyd and so many others through history. 14 I became the laughingstock of all my people; they mock me in song all day long. 15 He has filled me with bitter herbs and given me gall to drink. 16 He has broken my teeth with gravel; he has trampled me in the dust. 17 I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is. 18 So I say, “My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the Lord.” The author is saying, “I know you are here, but I am not seeing you.” He took the injustice straight to God. No matter where you stand on the terrible events happening in our country, I think we can agree that there is brokenness in this world that only God can overcome. We are in need of His intervention. It has been our prayer for the eyes and hearts of His people to be opened and to see the world as He does. As for what to do, Tyler and I have spent a lot of time this last week in Luke 10 reading the parable of the Good Samaritan, and reflecting on my own heart when it comes to loving my neighbors. Jesus shows us over and over what this looks like. We are called to stand with and care for the downtrodden and oppressed around us. Through that parable, God revealed to Tyler and I about how we are to be the hands and feet of Jesus acting in this world. Sometimes when we cry out “help” to God, he responds with, “Go, be my people.” God’s Holy Spirit is in us, and through that great power he moves us toward action in supporting our neighbors in need. Proverbs 31:8 says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” Creative One Media has gotten the chance to pray together on a Zoom call specifically for our Black and African American friends, family, and co-workers. It has been an honor to go alongside them as the Body of Christ and lift them up. It’s time once again to pursue healing, in His strength, with the truth of His Gospel. Thank you for linking arms with us.

I have had the wonderful privilege of working on a large project for the Design Movement. They are focused specifically for South Asian Americas. The Design Movement provides a community of people who truly understand who South Asian Americans are, the pressures in their lives, and most importantly their Desi culture (a person of Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi origin). Listening to these college students and staff telling their stories of experiencing Jesus has been a source of light in such a broken world. The community they have is one of acceptance that models the body of Christ in a truly amazing and beautiful way.