A viral moment was captured on the chaotic streets of New York City when two young toddlers Maxwell and Finnegan ran undeterred toward each other for a hug.
These besties saw each other from the distance on the sidewalk and immediately began running toward each other for a full-bodied greeting. Maxwell, who is Black, and Finnegan, who is white, are proof of the late South African President Nelson Mandela‘s assertion, "No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite."
Mandela offered this observation in "Long Walk to Freedom” his published memoirs. He spent his life fighting the injustices of apartheid, including spending 27 years in prison for battling the apartheid government. Mandela eventually won the first fully democratic election in South African history and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work for human equality.
“What The World Needs Now Is Love” is a simplistic song with a timeless message from the 1960s. Using the backdrop of nature in the throngs of the civil rights movement, the melody expresses that the world has sufficient meadows and fields for harvesting, sun and moon to radiate light while it yet yearns for its people to have love and respect for each other.
America then was experiencing escalating tension in the areas of race relations, human rights and equality. Time continues to reveal that intolerance and divisiveness only fuels hatred and division.
The love for God and humanity is a basic tenant among most expressions of faiths. From the context of my own faith, 1 John 2:9 asserts that “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness’ and finishes the argument noting “…they do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.”
1 John 4:20 states it plainly, “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.”
That’s pretty clear to me!
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who advanced a civil rights agenda using the principles of non-violence firmly resolved, “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear!” Dr. King exhibited this love consistently throughout the movement. He opted to love people even when they hated him. In choosing to love, Dr. King refused to allow hatred to consume him.
The message of Dr. King still resonates today. The uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic’s reach and the issues surrounding race in America has revealed the best and worse within our society. We have seen labors of love and demonstrative acts of hate, all which are matters of the heart. God has always wanted his people to be the redemptive influence in their world, society and relationships.
I am encouraged that there are young people, via the Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past, who have been empowered to develop their leadership skills while understanding the history of the Civil Rights Movement to address racism. These ambitious leaders & influencers, guided by veteran educator Penny Wells, are currently developing a high-quality interactive Anti-Racism workshop that will be presented throughout the Mahoning Valley.
Proverbs 10:12 declares, “Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.” Love removes the venom from the fangs of difficult piercing situations while hatred only intensifies the fanning flames of bitterness.
What is a practical next step? Support efforts that seek to build up the community.
Terrill Vidale, an enterprising visionary, is spearheading an effort to promote economic and community empowerment within the region. Themed “Make Hate Wrong Again” he is presenting Le’Andria Johnson, a Grammy award winner, at the fifth annual 2DE Gospel Fest July 12. Ms. Johnson’s Billboard No. 1 hits include “Deliver Me (This Is My Exodus),” “Grace” and “Better Days” all which convey hope and help in these troubled times. Go to www.2deepevents.com for further information.
Proceeds from the event will be used to advance the forthcoming financial institution Community of Faith Credit Union and Warren’s FOCUS Community Center which helps persons to start businesses and nonprofit organizations in the area.
I also believe there should be more dialogue and engagement in our community beyond social media and talk radio. A safe space is needed where there can be honest and open respectful conversations without arguing or fear offending someone. That means a willingness to listen for the purpose of understanding, not to rationalize or justify one’s own long-held position. We can disagree without being disagreeable yet having discussions while having civil — not defensive —arguments.
I want to share a poignant appeal to God offered by the honorable Judge Kimberly Cocroft of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas in Columbus several years ago which remains relevant today.
MOMENT FOR PRAYER: Father! Thank you for another opportunity and privilege of prayer and for allowing us to see another day!
Lord, we come to you with a request for order in our communities, our nation and our world. Confusion is so prevalent in the land and it seems as if everyone and everything is acting up and acting out. There is so much disrespect, destruction, disaster and disease running rampant and we are becoming numb to the nastiness, hostility and hatefulness that we participate in and witness on a daily basis.
But your Word reminds us that all things are to be done decently and in order. So we declare and decree that there shall be order in every area of our lives - on our jobs, in our relationships, in our communities, in our political discourse, in our finances, in our communications, in our homes, in our hearts, in our minds and in our bodies.
We bind every chaotic thought, action, plot, scheme and plan that creates commotion and upheaval and that wreaks havoc and grief, and we release increased love, peace, joy, thoughtfulness and cooperation! We thank you for hearing and honoring this prayer and count this request as done!
It is so and so it is - Amen!
We are called to be a different kind of people that leave the world a different place. Choosing love requires effort but it is worth it. It is not always easy, but it is always powerful. I am well aware and realize this work can be tiring but we must remain undaunted. So let us not become weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not, so keep the faith!
— Rev. Lewis W. Macklin II is the lead pastor of Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, chaplain for the Youngstown Police Department and coordinator of the Mahoning Valley African American Male Wellness Walk. He resides in Youngstown with Dorothy, his partner in marriage and ministry. They share the love and joy of 5 children and 6 grandchildren.
— All biblical references cited are New International Version unless otherwise noted.
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