My Heritage and Breaking the Cycle of Racism

via Photo Challenge: Heritage

I grew up in a small southern town where the black population lived on the opposite side of the main highway that went through the center of our town. We are famous for the bombing murder of civil rights activist Harry T. Moore and his wife. Mr. Moore had called for the suspension of Groveland County Sheriff McCall because of the abuse suffered by the Groveland 4 (four young black men falsely accused of rape and assault).

“Six weeks later on Christmas night, 1951, a bomb went off beneath the house of Moore and his wife in Mims, Florida. It was the Moore’s twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. They were fatally injured: Moore died on the way to the hospital and his wife died from her injuries nine days later at the hospital in Sanford.” Courtesy of Wiki.

This memorial park is situated on the very land where the Moore’s lived and died. It is a beautiful place nestled of 11+ acres of large oak trees and lush vegetation. The vision statement on their website says it all. “To develop a national civil rights resource and tourist center incorporating the latest technology and information management systems. To form cooperative working relationships with academic, corporate and cultural institutions throughout the nation and the world to link the historical trail of the early civil rights pioneers and their effect on communities both large and small.”

I don’t believe in the division that this country had and continues to have. I’m not sure who is profiting from it but I do know that it is wrong and grossly unnecessary in this day and age. If our schools would stop teaching the lie that the civil war was all about keeping slavery, and tell the truth that it was because the government couldn’t tax those slaves; then maybe the next generation would be able to stop all of this horrible hate.

Some day…

Time…

We hear all kinds of sayings about time like “time flies” or “just give it some time” and countless others. But have you ever just sat and watched a clock tick away time? I recently wanted to see what it was like to do just that. I had a little bit of time, pun intended, and sat in my quiet room and just stared at the clock. I could only do it for 3 minutes and 21 seconds. It reminded me of the days of my youth when I was practicing holding my breath for a swimming lesson.

While I sat there watching the hands of the old clock, a lot of memories ran through my mind. From childhood thru college thru the milestones and strides my children have made with their families. I started to realize that this time, we take for granted, is more precious than any rare diamond.

Time does fly by whether we are starring at a clock or going on with our daily lives. Although it does seem to fly faster when we are not paying attention to it. We cannot get time back once it has gone by. There is no rewind or do-over button for time. So how do we make the most of it?

Don’t leave anyone behind. If you have a loved one you haven’t connected with in a while, give them a call. They are probably wondering what you are up to too.

Make the most of the time you have. Whether you are living with an illness or not, don’t take time for granted. Accidents happen everyday. And even if you escape an accident, the next one is just waiting to happen.

Put the keeper of time at the front of your life. Jesus will return, this is a fact. We don’t know when so we have to be ready. Take that trip you’ve always wanted to take. Make that 15,000 foot sky dive jump. Volunteer at a hospital or assisted living facility. Tell people about Jesus while there is still time.

Once we get to Heaven, this time that is so precious now, will be replaced by the Son of the living God. Where time with Him will be glorious and forever.

God bless and stay safe!