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Stephanie J Thompson

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Staying the Course to Pursue Racial Righteousness

June 9, 2020 by Stephanie Leave a Comment

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I am about to do a new thing;
    now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
    and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:19

The journey to new things is often uncomfortable. Certainly anyone familiar with the laboring process recognizes the intense pain that arises prior to the birth. Sometimes the pain must be endured for a short time. But other times, it just doesn’t unfold that way and the pain lasts a long time as new life prepares to emerge.

Certainly, we all have experiences with waiting for the “birthing” of something new. A job, reconciliation with a friend or family member, physical healing, or resolution to a conflict or hard decision. Some of these journeys involve individual narrative contexts. But some point to collective experiences in the wilderness.

God’s promise here, as spoken through Isaiah, addresses all of the Israelites. They, as a group that was called to bear witness to the “I am” turned away from their covenant. And the consequences hurt. God’s path toward restoration involved letting them reap the consequences of their sin. Did every single man, woman, and child commit the sinful actions that angered God? of course not. But we all belong to each other and our sins can never be contained to a single violation of another. The ripples spread in our sea of humanity.

God’s holiness shows through God’s people in both the public moments and the more private ones. As a professor of mine once wisely quipped, “There is no such thing as “private” sin”. God knew the ways we would try to reach for power over one another.

Despite, Isaiah’s words of pending discomfort through an upcoming exile in chapter 43, hope still existed. God has always been in the business of new things. Israel had lost their way. The result would be painful for generations. But they have the opportunity to reach toward “new things.” Birth preparations are beginning.

So it is with us. We, in this country, feel birthing pains. A new thing is in process. Trusting God means we who are committed to paving new roads toward racial justice have to stay the course. When it’s hard. When escaping hard conversations becomes tempting. Blessing will come in the refining. God is making things new.

Leaning into voices different from our own points us to the vast mystery and beauty of our Creator. We are privy to seeing more of God’s character and work through sharing life with the diversity of Image bearers. Here are some people that I have found helpful in my own journey. Please explore and find multitudes, not just a few. And of of course, build relationships with diverse people in your community and online spheres.

Black voices:

  • https://www.patriciaraybon.com/
  • http://www.trillianewbell.com/
  • https://www.josaxton.com/
  • https://dominiquegilliard.com/
  • https://jemartisby.com/about/

People of Color:

  • https://kaitlincurtice.com/
  • https://twitter.com/CisnerosCafe
  • https://twitter.com/_karenjgonzalez
  • https://twitter.com/drmichellereyes
  • https://aliajoy.com/
  • http://www.kathykhang.com/

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When my first child was born 20 plus years ago, I envisioned taking just a few years off from my role as Pastor of Youth and Family. While that didn’t exactly unfold as expected, God used my gifts and skills in other ways. Read More…

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s2thomp

Oh my goodness! I made red lobster biscuits as a l Oh my goodness! I made red lobster biscuits as a loaf! So good!
Lena ( who is vegan) prepared an herbed butter roa Lena ( who is vegan) prepared an herbed butter roasted turkey. We collaborated on vegan side dishes including rolls (amazing!), sauteed green beans with shallots, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes and of course dessert. Thankful for her culinary coaching and help today. How is your Thansgiving?
My recent reads. Three female authors who expanded My recent reads. Three female authors who expanded my recognition of the character of God and what it means to belong to the bold sisterhood of image bearers. I long to have their words coursing through my veins at all times.
“Are these good for baking?” asked the man sha “Are these good for baking?” asked the man sharing space in front of the bin of potatoes. I had navigated around the maze of vegetable stands in the produce department of the grocery store on a Saturday afternoon, and arrived here at this moment. As I looked up, he continued, “I’m new to this.”

 I answered his question, my mind reeling with the scenarios playing out in his life right now. He appeared in his 60’s. Did his spouse recently die? Divorce? “Sure. These are what I use. There is another bin over with more,” I replied as I pointed away from where we stood. 

My answer felt inadequate to what was conveyed seconds before. But it is what he needed. Humanity. A recognition that we see and hear each others as companions in this place wrought with both beauty and pain.

As he parted, he thanked me and I remembered: I have encountered this situation before. Another time in a different store, an elderly man asked me where to find an item and commented that he had never done the grocery shopping before. I walked away wishing I could do more than identify an aisle.

These encounters remind me that “we are all walking each other home.” At anytime, any one of us is harboring invisible struggles. None of us is immune to the realities that we live in a place this side of Heaven. 

But we have the opportunity to offer grace and love in the most ordinary of moments. We share out of what has been given to us. It’s not ours to hoard.

Read more: https://stephaniejthompson.com/2020/10/27/seeking-gods-transformation-of-our-interactions-with-others/  #graceupongrace #sacredconnections. #loveyourneighbor
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s2thomp

Oh my goodness! I made red lobster biscuits as a l Oh my goodness! I made red lobster biscuits as a loaf! So good!
Lena ( who is vegan) prepared an herbed butter roa Lena ( who is vegan) prepared an herbed butter roasted turkey. We collaborated on vegan side dishes including rolls (amazing!), sauteed green beans with shallots, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes and of course dessert. Thankful for her culinary coaching and help today. How is your Thansgiving?
My recent reads. Three female authors who expanded My recent reads. Three female authors who expanded my recognition of the character of God and what it means to belong to the bold sisterhood of image bearers. I long to have their words coursing through my veins at all times.
“Are these good for baking?” asked the man sha “Are these good for baking?” asked the man sharing space in front of the bin of potatoes. I had navigated around the maze of vegetable stands in the produce department of the grocery store on a Saturday afternoon, and arrived here at this moment. As I looked up, he continued, “I’m new to this.”

 I answered his question, my mind reeling with the scenarios playing out in his life right now. He appeared in his 60’s. Did his spouse recently die? Divorce? “Sure. These are what I use. There is another bin over with more,” I replied as I pointed away from where we stood. 

My answer felt inadequate to what was conveyed seconds before. But it is what he needed. Humanity. A recognition that we see and hear each others as companions in this place wrought with both beauty and pain.

As he parted, he thanked me and I remembered: I have encountered this situation before. Another time in a different store, an elderly man asked me where to find an item and commented that he had never done the grocery shopping before. I walked away wishing I could do more than identify an aisle.

These encounters remind me that “we are all walking each other home.” At anytime, any one of us is harboring invisible struggles. None of us is immune to the realities that we live in a place this side of Heaven. 

But we have the opportunity to offer grace and love in the most ordinary of moments. We share out of what has been given to us. It’s not ours to hoard.

Read more: https://stephaniejthompson.com/2020/10/27/seeking-gods-transformation-of-our-interactions-with-others/  #graceupongrace #sacredconnections. #loveyourneighbor
Follow on Instagram
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Error: API requests are being delayed for this account. New posts will not be retrieved.

Log in as an administrator and view the Instagram Feed settings page for more details.

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