Living and Ministering Through Two Enemies
By Dr. Herman O. Kelly, Jr., Columnist
Our lives have been turned upside down by an invisible pandemic. We are also on voter alert regarding efforts to limit our ability to vote and exercise our God-given right. We think we have overcome, as we sing during African American celebrations, but we now understand that to be fully recognized as complete citizens is still a fight we must be engaged. So how do we minister through these two enemies, one we can see and other attacks without sight or warning?
First, to combat the invisible enemy of COVID-19 and its variants, we must all use common sense and look out for each other. The biblical mandate reminds us, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself” (Mk 12:31), which means being educated and vaccinated and wearing a mask and practicing social distancing. In addition, we must live exercising common sense. We should be careful in crowded spaces and be concerned with the physical greetings we share. “The life we save may be our own. As our lives change, we must continue to be mindful of our mind, body, and spirit. I call this “The Triangle of Life.” We must engage our minds with positive thoughts and energy, our body must exercise, we must eat healthily, and God’s word must nourish our spirit.
Secondly, our ancestors suffered and died for the right to vote and participate in the election process. One of the images I shall never forget is my 90-year-old father voting for what was to be his last time and our 18-year-old daughter voting for the first time. This image encouraged me to continue the fight for voter participation and registration. I encourage my students to register and participate in the voting process. The enemy of voter suppression is a serious threat to liberty and justice as we know it. We minister through this by “Cosmic-Companionship,” as Dr.King once stated. It is knowing the power of God and God’s companionship with us.
Lastly, we minister through these two enemies by waiting for God to direct us and to give us strength for the journey, remembering that “but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
The eagle does not fly but instead soars above the circumstances. Like eagles, we soar with The majesty of God. We find the wind currents of justice and righteousness, and we allow the currents to get beneath our wings of change for a better society for our children yet unborn.
