I went to Walmart yesterday - wound up leaving with a couple of things I went for, but more importantly, something I didn't go there looking for - a new friend. I had done all of my 'shopping,' added totals, put some stuff back - the usual. Before I left, I found myself over in the grocery section, on the paper goods and cleaning items aisle to be specific. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, just seeing what they had - or so I thought. As I was looking, a woman passed behind me and said, 'Do you see any disinfectant wipes?' I told her I didn't, then looked at her, smiled, and made some off the cuff comment about how crazy things are right now. She immediately took that opportunity to start talking about the book of Revelation and how things are unfolding right before our eyes. Without going into all of the detail, she began telling me how she has had such a restless spirit, hasn't been able to sleep lately and has been up at night praying about all of the unrest in the world right now, etc. Of course, since the episode(s) in Minneapolis had just happened, that was what she was referring to most immediately. I hate to have to stop and say this because in my eyes it doesn't matter, but it helps to make the point - she was a black woman and shared that she was 65 years old. She went on to tell me that she didn't know if I was old enough to remember segregation, etc. I told her that I was 58 and really don't remember any of that. She went on to say that she has such a hard time understanding things now because her mother had worked for white people who were good as gold to her family - gave them food during the year, made sure they were taken care of during the holidays, clothing, home furnishings, etc - just everything that people do when they care for each other. Her mother passed away in 1962, the year I was born, so I guess her mom never knew any different. This new friend went on to share her story in her battle with cancer, losing her husband, having surgery for blocked arteries and her thyroid, but what shone through all of that was her spirit and her trust in God and all He has seen her through. We probably talked for at least 45 minutes right there on the paper goods aisle! Before we parted ways, she asked me what church I attended. I told her 'First Baptist Jonesboro' - and as only God could orchestrate that meeting yesterday, she shared that she also attends there as well! That led to another 10-15 minutes of discussion, but let me know how cool it is that God can bring people together anywhere - even on the paper goods aisle in Walmart!
I have come to realize that segregation ended when I was a young child, and I am so thankful for that! I was not raised to be prejudiced, and I am thankful for that as well. I look at the world now and can't understand why people act the way they do except for sin and greed - and people of every race are guilty of that! I don't understand, but I do know it's a huge problem the world is facing right now. My mind keeps coming back to a song of Mandisa's that I heard a few years ago. It was true then, and is true today - 'Bleed the Same' - I just can't get those lyrics out of my head, so I'm sharing them here:
Bleed the Same
Mandisa - 2017
Woke up today
Another headline
Another innocent life is taken
In the name of hatred
So hard to take
And if we think that it's all good
Then we're mistaken
'Cause my heart is breaking
Are you left?
Are you right?
Pointing fingers, taking sides
When are we gonna realize
We all bleed the same
We're more beautiful when we come together
We all bleed the same
So tell me why, tell me why
We're divided
If we're gonna fight
Let's fight for each other
If we're gonna shout
Let love be the cry
We all bleed the same
So tell me why, tell me why
We're divided
Tell me, who are we
To judge someone
By the kind of clothes they're wearing
Or the color of their skin?
Are you black?
Are you white?
Aren't we all the same inside?
Father, open our eyes to see!
We all bleed the same
We're more beautiful when we come together
Let's stand united!
We all bleed the same
So tell me why, tell me why
We're divided
If we're gonna fight
Let's fight for each other
If we're gonna shout
Let love be the cry
We all bleed the same
Let's stand united!
We ALL need to take Mandisa's advice and stand united! It's the only way!
