I think it’s pretty ironic

That those of us never afflicted by violence

Are sick of it

And, you know, just so completely

Bothered.

Can the warring African countries just get it together,

Can South-siders just stop with the gun killing,

Can the drug addicted mothers stop prostituting and abusing their children,

Can a couple of rogue cops stop making America look so bad,

Can the Syrians just figure it out and stay where they are,

Because right now we are just too

Bothered.

Of the pain.

The discomfort and struggle

Of hearing of loss,

Of seeing people shot,

Of watching bombs destroy

So uncomfortable

From our stadium leather seats at the nightly news theater.

Right now we can’t have any peace

Because we are so disturbed by observing the gladiator games

From the sidelines.

So Bothered.

All of a sudden the world started mattering to us

When our presumed perimeters ceased feeling safe

So we must simply build higher walls

To protect the pure race

Bullet-proof, noise-silencer, eye-censored

To make sure we aren’t so

Bothered.

We say, “Oh dear Lord Jesus come!”

And they say, “Oh won’t someone come!”

And Jesus says, “I’ve told them to come.”

When the privilege of safety and freedom

Becomes a defensive weapon, then we create

Privilege.

When the privilege of family sleeping well and full in our homes

Becomes a guarded, unshared right, then we create

Privilege.

One privilege a blessing, the other Privilege a curse.

For cursed is the one whose walls are bigger than their tables.

For many of us, though, who sit in a safe middle

The “kinda sorta maybe that’s not right” crowd

Need an outlet to be proud

Of joining an action-less word-fight against evil.

Because, of course, we can’t be outright distant

That would be criminal.

So we create taglines of mercy

#heartbrokenforParis, #prayforOrlando, #SyrianRefugeeCrisis

#Furguson #PhilandoCastile #PrayforCharleston

Mere empty gifts of windy sympathy.

Real compassion requires loss

Each action a cross, your soul sacrifice

Because a heart broken is more than a token word spoken

In a digital press of unaccountability.

So keep hating the pain you don’t even feel

Keep decrying the bombs that don’t shake your home

Cover your eyes and ears

And pray for the Lord to come

And safe passage into heaven.

Where thank God we won’t be so

Bothered.

---

So now what?

We all typically have 2 kinds of resources:

Time.

Money.

Both require sacrifice when it’s used outside of our own wants and needs. But to not use either speaks louder than any hashtag. However, using one of your true resources will go a lot farther in partnering with Goodness in the fight against Evil.

Choose a cause. Choose your resource. Combine the two and incite some real movement and change.

Syrian Refugee Crisis

World Relief – They have Good Neighbor programs and other refugee assistance opportunities that I’ve seen to truly make a difference and help hurting people. http://www.worldrelief.org/refugee-crisis

Read: Seeking Refuge: On the shores of the Global Refugee Crisis by Stephan Bauman

Police brutality and Black Lives Matter

Unless our public servants are held accountable to same laws and repercussions of justice as each citizen is, then our justice system will continue to silently encourage the mistreatment and killing of our black brothers and sisters.

Equal Justice Initiative is doing excellent work to defend the lives of innocent black lives and to change the injustice within the legal system. http://eji.org/

Also, google “Protest police brutality in [your city]” or just ask one of your black friends how they think you should go about protesting in the community.

Read: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

Violence, poverty, and unemployment

Poverty is complex. Which is why it takes many perspectives and intellect to solve one problem at a time, empower one person at a time.

Compassion – They sponsor children to break the cycle of poverty and give communities new opportunities. http://www.compassion.com/

World Vision – They do development around the world to give fresh water, sponsor children, create jobs, and develop communities. http://www.worldvision.org/our-work

Entrenuity is a Chicago-based entrepreneurship program that helps minorities and disadvantaged start businesses and rebuild local economies. http://www.entrenuity.com/

Read: When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett

Watch: The Hidden Reason For Poverty The World Needs To Address Now, TED talk by Gary Haugan

Human trafficking

New research shows that 47 million people are enslaved today. That’s outrageous given the fact that slavery is illegal globally. While still gaining awareness momentum, most cities, states and countries have non-profits combating this atrocity.

International Justice Mission – The largest anti-slavery organization in the world. https://www.ijm.org/

Not For Sale – Works in the US and global communities to end trafficking and also assist in job readiness and business development. https://www.notforsalecampaign.org/

Read – God in a Brothel by Daniel Walker

Watch – Nefarious Merchant of Souls, exposing the disturbing trends of modern-day sex slavery