United We Stand?

I have been quiet lately. I haven't said anything about the football players who didn't stand for the National Anthem. And it isn't because I haven't heard about it. I may not watch football, but Facebook is filled with outrage and opinion as if somehow our country is going to fall apart because a few young men didn't follow our patriotic ritual.

Have you ever seen the videos of North Korean children, all singing in unison about how their country is the best, and how they love their father-leader? It is a scary sight. What is most frightening is that they do not have a choice. They are required to sing those songs and march in perfect unison.

We Americans were taught to stand and put our hand over our heart, and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. We were also taught to stand when the Anthem was being played at our High School football games. I believe respect is a good thing. I also believe it is good to feel loyal to this great country.

Respect. Loyalty. These are attributes that should be taught and exampled, not laws to be enforced. Respect is earned. Loyalty born in a heart that feels safe.

There are people who love this country, but have a very different perspective than my privileged white one. People who do not feel "safe". People who feel they are being treated unfairly by certain citizens of law enforcement. No, let's just admit that they ARE being treated unfairly. Murder is very unfair. Being shot is not fair at all. Being seen as guilty or dangerous just because of the color of your skin is nothing but unfair.

We are outraged by the violent protests chanting "Black Lives Matter" yet these few who choose to protest in a quiet and non-violent manner still outrage us. Does it cause us to feel just a little uncomfortable in our white skin?

If this section of our populous is fed up, and wants to make a statement against these atrocities by kneeling during the Anthem, they have every right to do so.
(Yes and we have every right to go after them for it, with our holier than thou Facebook rants and twitter tweets defending this great country. As if America is offended by their lack of compliance to her tradition, and our servicemen cry over these protests.)

We might make this country we love so much even greater by noticing their protest...by empathizing with their pain, and listening to their cries for freedom and liberty for all.

We have allowed our outrage at people who don't follow the proper protocol to cloud the real issue. If there are some who feel threatened and unsafe among us, then why are we still singing? 

Why aren't we all kneeling in humility, crying with them, and asking their forgiveness for the atrocities they're experiencing?

America, what are we standing for?

My I am loves to Dance

(another excerpt from my someday book, "The Popeye Chronicles: Becoming my I am")

I have always loved to dance. Ever since I can remember, I have loved music, and when music is playing, my body is dancing. I feel music in every fiber of my being. It expresses some of the deepest parts of me, and that expression comes out in dance.

When we came into the Kingdom, I stopped dancing. After going to church and learning about how sinful I was, I knew the dancing part of me had to die. After all, I spent a lot of years dancing to ungodly rock music...in very ungodly places. I probably caused many men to succumb to lust, and was responsible for many women's sinful jealousy. My dancing days were over. So sad.

The problem was, our church music was upbeat and there were even people moving to it during worship. But, they weren't really dancing...not the kind of dance that was inside of me. There's was an acceptable dance which didn't seem much like a dance at all. It was actually more like jumping. (Evidently aerobics are acceptable to the Lord.) Anyway, I felt very uncomfortable doing it. Oh how I wanted to dance!!

Well, the dancer within was coming out...at home. 

In my house, by myself, I began to put worship music on and move to my heart's delight...and God's as well. I know He loved my dancing because He would dance with me. I felt His presence and the warmth of His smile. It was glorious to be back...to find myself again. So, I danced and I danced and I danced...

But finding your I am can be a dangerous thing. My dancing I am was released at a funeral for a friend. She was taken, in my opinion, way too early. Her service was in the church I attended. Music was playing, one of my favorite songs...and the next thing I knew I was out of my seat...dancing in the aisle. Yep, my I am came out in full force for all to see. I guess I had become so used to being "me" at home, alone with God, that I couldn't be suppressed any longer. So, I danced. And in the moment I didn't care, I was caught up with Him, dancing with my Beloved, and dancing with my friend.

As the service was ending, that stupid insecure false me tried to rear her ugly head with accusations...trying to blanket me in shame. But God had me covered. He always covers our shame if we'll let Him. (Too often we jump in and try to cover ourselves which only serves to hinder our I am.) But this day someone very dear to the woman came up to me and said "I am so glad you danced! It was beautiful, and she would have loved it!!" Oh thank you!! And thank You, God...for loving me and loving my dance!!
I would like to say that I am completely free now and dance with abandon any time the Spirit moves me...but it is not yet true. But one thing is true; my dancing I am will never make me ashamed again.