ferguson

There will be no indictment in Ferguson, Missouri. The grand jury did not find there was ample evidence to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of unarmed, 18-year-old Michael Brown. Remember that Wilson is white; Brown was black. Also be aware that the 12 person jury is the only group of people that has heard all the collected evidence. They had a “monumental responsibility.” Their job was to separate fact from fiction. Their job was not to be pressured by the public nor seduced by subjectivity. Their job was to search for truth.  I pray they did their job well.  I do not claim to know.

I also wholeheartedly believe there is no reason for looting, riots, destruction nor any celebration. There is grief that a young man died far too early. There is heartache for his surviving, hurting family. And as is typical of our Intramuralist dialogue, there are questions. I will offer only a few, written in the immediate aftermath, witnessing the response:

How many of us made up our minds ahead of time what the verdict should be?  — what was that based upon?

For some, was an indictment more important than truth?

Is a non-indictment an absolution of guilt?

Why do we feel empowered to discern right from wrong in absence of all the evidence?

How does the media affect the process?

Are we getting an accurate perspective?

Does our emotion ever obstruct us from truth?

Does social media help or hurt?

Does  public pressure ever trump actual evidence?

Do we feel capable of dictating justice?

Do we ever become demanding?

Where are we unwilling to allow justice to play itself out?

Do we feel warranted in taking justice into our own hands?

And…

…do we believe that God is just — that justice will eventually be served through him?  Is that enough for us?

I have few answers — mostly just questions, as it’s a sad time in Ferguson, Missouri. A young man died far too young, and a lack of unity and trust exists amid the community.

That lack of unity was evident last night. When I witnessed a sign by one in the crowd, saying “black lives matter,” my heart hurt. The protestor is right; black lives do matter;  all lives matter.  Therein lies the challenge; we are inconsistent in the valuing of life or the life of another.  Sometimes we see differently in regard to only one “kind of life,” when yes, all lives matter… black, white, Asian, Hispanic, male, female, born, unborn, gay, straight, religious, non-religious, old, young, Republican, Democrat, special needs, you name it… Sometimes, for some reason, we passionately seek justice only for some.  Perhaps we should instead trust God for justice for all.

Prayers for peace… prayers for the Brown family… prayers, too, that wisdom, truth, and love would always reign most important.

Respectfully…

AR