Hard Conversations on Racism
This past week was a big one for me. I got my first tattoo (that's a story for another blog post), our kids started school in a brand new school system where we really don't know anyone (yet another story for another day), and I had my first opportunity to preach on racism in the church. I've never been a person to shy away from speaking on the things that I feel deeply about, or more importantly, the things that God has laid on my heart. At the same time, I've never really enjoyed conflict. I'm not an avoider of conflict, but it definitely isn't on my list of "I hope I get to experience that today." Sometimes, we shy away from conversations that God is calling us to have as the Church, because we are afraid of the conflict that might rise up, myself included. We all love accolades, affirmation and amens. The problem is, sometimes God asks us to do hard things, things that cause tension, things that leave you feeling vulnerable, things that may e