If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

My heart is saddened to see another Black life taken. George Floyd was his name. His murder demonstrates the grave injustice in this nation when it comes to race and inequality. George Floyd is the latest in a litany of Black men and women killed by police. There were many who came before George Floyd: Some lives were taken while being filmed on camera; Others were killed in the obscure darkness of the night. When will we learn?

I have hope as a veteran of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s and the Pan-African Black Power Movement of the 1970’s, that this time is different. Unlike any other time in my 73 years of existence I have seen an outpouring of discontentment from this generation which includes a multi-racial participation unlike anything that I have ever seen. Even White protesters are holding up signs saying “Black Lives Matter,” and signs that cry out “No Justice, No Peace.” I see peaceful demonstrations in all of our major cities and now around the world.

I believe God is stirring up a new generation who are tired of the hypocrisy of this nation and the same old, same old promises that have never been fulfilled. It behooves us to not be silent as God’s chosen people, but to stand up for righteousness, and justice. It is time for us to be a WITNESS for the Lord!

Second Chronicles 7:14 is God’s challenge to us, not only white folks, but black folks to repent from our wayward ways, pray and declare not only our faith in God, but put our faith in action. This action is to participate in our God given and governmental right to vote, to be accountable through our census, and to answer the call for jury duty so that we can have a jury of our peers. We are under the challenge of God to be a voice in this wilderness of despair to let people know that there is still hope in the God of our salvation that neither falters nor fails. Let us get it right this time so we won’t return to these old landmarks. This is God’s challenge to us!