Part Two a Leap of Faith

A Leap of Faith

This leap occurred during the pandemic. It started as a process I hadn’t really planned on. Here I was, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, at home with plenty of time to fill as I wished. I'm not one to watch TV 24/7, so I thought about the books I had collected with the intention of reading them at my leisure. Well, intent met leisure, and I picked up a book titled The Skin You Live In: Building Friendships Across Cultural Lines by David Ireland.

As a retired teacher and counselor, who had been a substitute teacher for ten years after retiring, collecting discarded books from teachers' rooms became an adventurous hobby. This book was both intriguing and an easy read. The questions it posed were reflective, never condemning, but instead encouraging you to step outside of your comfort zone. The author used subtle references to scripture—not to browbeat, but to offer a gentle nudge. He began by sharing his experiences at the supermarket, where he noticed racial and cultural diversity. It resonated with me, especially during the pandemic when going to the store was often the only opportunity to be around others, aside from my college-aged son. Anyone with a teenager knows the limited scope of interaction during those years.

At the start of the COVID pandemic, when nearly the entire world was grappling with the same disease, fears, and questions, yet few answers, those powerful words began ringing out: "We are in this together." This message echoed through my family, church members, and neighbors. We reached out to others—people we rarely spoke to or called before. Prayer lines encouraged anyone to call. As I continued reading, a prayer in the book asked for a change to come within me, sparking a challenge to create change in my community. The prayer encouraged me to forgive others for the racial injustices done to me and others. But I couldn't forgive without asking for Divine Justice, Divine Order, Divine Law, Divine Truth, and Divine Love. I needed God to deliver that Divine Jolt with His/Her Love. I didn’t want revenge unless it could bring about a true, lasting positive change. Revenge never leads to closure or growth for those causing harm.

Then came that tragic day when George Floyd was brazenly, undeniably, and uncaringly killed—with no regard for who was videoing, what others were saying, or anything else. The world seemed to react in unison, revealing how racial injustice had been occurring not only in the U.S. but also in other countries like England, Germany, and France. It felt like pulling back the sheets from the slain bodies, commanding change—not demanding it. This wasn’t the first lynching, but this time, thousands of people across the world were demanding an end to it, through marches, organizing, and in some cases, even through violence. The difference was that most of the media focused on the cause of the actions, both positive and negative, rather than on the acts of violence themselves. For the first time, I saw people of all races, genders, and ages marching together, joining organizations to make change, and voicing in unison, "Black Lives Matter" across the world.

The underlying need is to live in a society where we can all be safe and respected. The pandemic revealed both positive and negative aspects of society. When I saw the marches in response to George Floyd’s death, I felt a sense of hope—a Leap of Faith that change is possible. Even the negative leaders who fueled division were a necessary force. It was like a battery needing both a positive and negative charge to start a car. More people registered and voted during the pandemic than at any other time in U.S. history. Additionally, more women of various cultures, ages, and races won elections. It was a leap toward a better future for our country and the world. Change is happening.

I demonstrated my own need to try something different by joining an organization that encouraged people to register and vote. This group consisted of people from all walks of life—various races, ages, genders, and backgrounds from across the United States. Never before had I joined such an organization. We all wanted the opportunity for change, for different reasons, but with a common goal. I met some very interesting people who helped me shift my worldviews and perceptions of people across the country. One woman, whose entire family were Trump supporters, was opposed by her own relatives for wanting to help people register to vote to prevent Trump from being re-elected. That simple book and prayer have transformed my life in ways I could never have imagined, helping me build new friendships and become less rejecting of people who are different from me.

I am cautiously optimistic that the justice system and policing will eventually become more equitable, though long overdue. Perhaps one day in the future, it will no longer be imperative to have “the talk” with our children—especially our sons—to prepare them for survival before starting school or going out into the world.

Thank you to those who took the time to read this blog. Please feel free to share your comments and provide your own insights.