✨My Thoughts On #BothamJean✨ (+#Forgiveness and #HuggingMurderers)
After Reading The Post Attached Alongside Botham's Mother's Statement (Attached Below——Which Very Much Gave Voice To How I Was Internally Processing And Affirmed My Silent Musings Over The Topic Of Botham Jean And The Photos Of His Brother Hugging His Murderer——Silent Because So Many Of You Are So Irrationally Vocal About Something You've Never Endured), I Was Finally Provoked To Respond And Share My Personal Thoughts Whilst Knowing That Most Of You Are Lingering In A Place Of Hostility About Anyone Who Is Able To Step Beyond The Surface Of A Hug And Perhaps See The Bigger Picture Beyond Themselves...
——————–—
First — I understood the hug. On a deeply personal level. And, I could not agree more with Bishop Flunder's or Botham's Mother's sentiments (below). Most folks haven't faced this kind of tragic loss and injustice.
To preface my perspective, my father, a pastor, was murdered in his church while leading a prayer meeting, by a serial killer named Juan Covington on August 19th, 1998. I have faced this difficult conundrum that most of you are only experiencing vicariously head on. And, I can honestly say, unequivocally, that forgiveness was my only path forward if I was to, indeed, move forward in freedom and peace. Hating my father's killer or wishing him ill or dead or harm in prison did absolutely nothing to resolve my pain or propel me into a meaningful life of purpose in my future.
I HAD TO FORGIVE THE MAN WHO MURDERED MY FATHER.
I've had many debates about this general topic over the years prior to these "hugging" photos and have often been frustrated by just how opinionated, indignant and emotional folks who have never traversed a similar path are over someone wanting to operate from a place of Christ Consciousness even in the ugliest of circumstances for their own sanity and salvation. Especially when the reality is that you can't know how you would react until you are living it. Period.
I don't believe it is for us to punish, withhold, or play judge and jury in these types of situations at this point in my life. And, yes, I understand all of the racial and historical, political and even regional implications. Yes, she should be sorry and have plead guilty. Yes, the system is broken. Yes, race absolutely played a significant part in her sentencing. Yes, it's unfair and it all sucks and it's hard to be Black in America. Yes, Botham Jean should be standing in front of his congregation come Sunday morning bellowing out a robust hymn to lead the people in worship. But, it is all so much more personal and complex in the moment than onlookers could ever fathom. And, I really wish some of you would take a step back for just a moment from the projection of your own feelings and consider his family's...
My resolve stems from a well worn, experiential understanding that nothing is simply black and white (it's not either/or — it's both/and).
Even when it is so very much about Black and White...🖤
— 𝓐𝓷𝓞𝓶𝓪𝓵𝓲™
#𝑩𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒑𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒓 🦋
