My privilege - thoughts in reaction to riots have me reeling.

Privilege is real.


I believe that the perception of systemic injustice is real. The reality of the macro system and its implied oppression is not so easy to discern.


Anecdotal individualism reigns in 2020. Extrapolating anecdotal promoted/published stories is not the overall story at all. My experience and my perception is just that. It is mine. It is not automatically applied at scale and duration to our entire modern society. Bad actors and criminals exist. Authority exists. The opposite is also true. Public health analysis and news MUST look at the numbers in context with scale and duration.


My privilege does exist. My family, my job choices, my wealth, my risk tolerance, my faith, and yes my race does play a role. I make no apologies for the benefits that I enjoy and it am proud to pass those down to my children, family, and friends. Generational blessings and curses will always be present. This reality is biblical and undeniable for our present world.


I freely choose to share and to sacrifice. I stand with my friends in tragedy and in triumph. My testimony is my action. Every day presents an opportunity for progress.


I desire a reality where being my friend is a privilege and vice versa. I count my friends as a blessing of unparalleled worth. I often don’t agree with them but their value is intrinsic. It is made clear when we stand together, work together, eat together, pray together and sing together. That is a privilege.


Life is not fair. It has never been so and never will be. I strive to make a difference and enable others wherever I am and whenever I am provided the opportunity. Learning from my past and moving forward. This is the way.


Assigning blame and wallowing in self pity is a disease. Understanding and accepting my privilege allows me to see and challenge and sing into a new song.