The wise man is not afraid of bad news. His heart is firm. He is steady. He is not afraid.
We continue to watch what’s happening in Ferguson, Missouri.
In anticipation of the grand jury’s decision — whether or not to indict the police officer who shot the unarmed teen — so many have their minds made up… so many who haven’t been privy to all the facts… who haven’t sat in on the grand jury testimony… who weren’t there.
That’s the bottom line, is it not? So many of us have made up our minds in regard to what we want to believe, even though we weren’t there. And because we weren’t there, there could be aspects of the situation, we don’t know. If there’s something we don’t know, then we could be wrong.
Where else does this happen?
Where else do we disregard prudence in the name of passion?
Where must we humbly acknowledge it’s possible we don’t have all the facts?
And where exist persons poised to benefit personally or professionally who provoke us to impatience — as opposed, yes, to what’s harder… to waiting…. being still… humility… and that coveted respect.
That does not delegitimize the time for a peaceful protest — albeit I said “peaceful.” There is no place for the looting or destruction that many seem self-justified in engaging in when an unfortunate civil situation occurs. But too many who call for protest are ok with the omission of the peaceful. Too many lead poorly. Too many incite. And too many forget that even in leadership, there may be something they don’t know.
In Ferguson, local gun dealers report significantly increased sales, especially for first time buyers. The Governor has called in the National Guard, and he has already declared a state of emergency — all in anticipation of the decision.
On August 9th, Officer Darren Wilson shot and killed Michael Brown, an 18 year old, who was unarmed. According to leaked accounts, the incident occurred at close range, in or near Wilson’s car; it lasted less than 90 seconds; Brown died; Wilson had some bodily injuries. Wilson is white; Brown was black.
Some have made up their minds one way or the other because one was an officer and one was not. Some have made up their minds one way or the other because one was armed and one was not. Some still, have made up their minds one way or the other because one was white and one was not.
None of those aspects change the fact that we weren’t there.
The wise man is not afraid of bad news. He not afraid of news nor perspective he seemingly disagrees with. The wise man recognizes there are things this side of heaven he will never know for certain, regardless of how he feels.
Oh, for more wisdom in this world.
Respectfully…
AR