Along the Paths BY VIRGIL CHILDS
T
16
of Jus
he United States is experiencing the
has focused a bright light on the truth, on the
most serious racial unrest since the
realities of life.
1960s, as lawful rallies, marches, and
You know, I have my own personal experience
protests of the killing of George Floyd
with racial profiling, being followed and pulled
in Minneapolis on Memorial Day have taken
over by the police. That is something that a
place throughout our region, across the U.S., and
certain group of people live with all the time. And
around the world. The protests have often been
it's a reality that I now think the world is beginning
massive but have also taken place in small towns;
to understand.
they have been largely peaceful but also marred
We build walls. We have excluded certain people
by violence; and they have been attended by a
and we have created privilege for others. As a
great diversity of people.
result, there's pain in our society, and it tells us that
The past few weeks have been really difficult.
something is seriously broken. When we look at
Perilous times have come upon us.
the protesting and the looting from the past few
First, let me say from the office of Regional
weeks, it lets us know that there needs to be some
Ministries at the Pacific Union and from our
reform amongst the people who are supposed to
constituents that we decry the senseless killing of
protect and serve.
George Floyd and our prayers are with his family.
The protesting and the rallies are so important.
However, at the same time, when I look at
However, I hope we realize that it’s not just others—
events such as this, I see an opportunity. As
there needs to be some reform amongst all of us.
horrific as it is, I still see it as an opportunity. The
We need to care more about our brothers and our
peace of the world is very fragile, and all it needs
sisters. Micah 6:8 says that we need to “do justly.”
is a precipitating event to bring it crashing down.
We need to “love mercy.” And we need to “walk
But, as a church, we have the peace of God, and
humbly before our God.” That is social justice.
that's a peace that passes all understanding.
We can't afford to be indifferent about
When I look at these events—the protests, the
people, about their pain and what they're going
looting, the violence and what it has done—it
through. We've got to consider what it means
PA C I F I C U N I O N R E CO R D E R
