Being a Light in a Society Filled with Darkness

How do you explain violence?  How do you explain why society cannot learn from the mistakes from the past? The world can seem very dark at times and the pain and hurt is felt beyond the people involved.  Many, even I, have tried to explain what is going on, but to no avail.  Others grasp for the best answer they can find and hope that understanding the reasons will fix the problem.  Though, in the end, it does not satisfy. People still mourn, people still die, and the cycle continues. We wish for the past days where life was simpler, where ignorance blinded us from reality and happiness was found in the small world we lived in.

Though, when this veil is lifted, we are left with a choice. Hide in a small hole or stand up and be an example to those around us. And in times like this, those who need us are those who are hurting the most. I could never understand what it is like to be a black male or female in the U.S., but what i can do is to stand up for them. To show others that they are just the same as me and to cry out at the injustice. Though, I also mourn with the families of lost loved ones, who did serve as police officers
to the best of their capacity. There is no war on races in Christ, we are one and the same.

Galatians 3:28 says:
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
And in this darkness, the only light some might see is what we can bring. Jesus calls us to be this light to the world.

As Matthew 5:16 says:
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

How can we be a light to those around us? It is a simple solution. Instead of pointing fingers and trying to choose a side, we should love those who hate us, love those who persecute us, mourn with those who mourn, build peace amongst brothers and sisters, and forgive those who do us harm.

As Romans 12:21 says:
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

So let us not forget the great words from Martin Luther King Jr. A man who served God and fought for justice in a society that would not give it. His words hold true today as they did in the past. Let these words remind us that hate does not end with more hate.

"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy, instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate.

Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."