A young black girl is walking on the sidewalk with her adoptive mom who is white.  A pick-up truck rolls by.  A passenger leans out the window and hurls these words at the girl, “Hey you, N….r Bitch!!” 

The street is Jefferson Avenue, Springfield Mo.  Our town. 

The date was one evening in February 2023.  Not back in the era of Jim Crow. 

But one month ago. 

The girl and her mom along with other siblings attend The Venues.  Mom told this story to my wife, Denise, and me recently over dinner.  

It is easy for us to identify such behavior as racist. It is hard, though, to identify racist attitudes within ourselves.  Racist jokes, memes, attitudes and structures can be much more subtle and just as damaging.  

As a pastor, I’ve worked with a lot of people who are working through racism - including myself.  

It seems the hardest thing to do is see our own racism.  

Derwin Gray, a black man, in his book, How to Heal Our Racial Divide writes about a conversation with a white man.  Gray asked him how he felt about black people.  The guy answered, “I don’t have any problem with them.”   Gray asked him to show him in Scripture where Jesus says, “Love God with your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and do not have a problem with your neighbor.”  

Jesus calls us to love others.  

When you love someone their pain is your pain. 

When you love someone the injustice they experience will matter to you. 

When you love someone you want for them what you want for yourself.  

When you love someone there is no “us” and “them.”  There is only “us.” 

Love.  The antidote to hate.  

Hate was on display that night on Jefferson Avenue.  Let’s overcome the hate with love.