A collection of the thoughts of others about Charleston . . . May we continue to grapple and learn and try and try again when we fail.#WeLament

I’ve tried to think of what I can say to add something to the conversation about Charleston, about race in this country, about healing, forgiveness or solidarity.

But the truth is I don’t know what I can add because I feel like I am still in the nascent stages of learning about all of it.

In addition, as I comb blogs, magazines, newspapers and websites I have found comfort, inspiration, challenge, insight and direction from other people who have so much more learning, experience and eloquence than me.

That’s not to say that someone can’t offer a new perspective or have insight without years of investment or study, but for me it has been a time to listen, learn and answer calls to act that come from those with the wisdom I feel I lack.

And so I thought for this week’s blog I would share the articles, blogs and posts that have brought me closer to some semblance of understanding, that have pushed me out of my comfort zone, that have forced me to look where I didn’t want to, that have given me tangible ideas for action and have also offered me hope that while this act of unspeakable racial violence could cause us to believe that we will always be divided there is a way to move forward.

This isn’t everything, but for me it has been steps in a journey begun some time ago to be finished some time from now …

https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/6605623/lecrae-charleston-shooting-op-ed

Why we as Christians need to acknowledge and confront the reality of the race problem as it manifested in Charleston and as it exists in our nation:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2015/june/downplaying-race-again-even-in-charleston.html -

A few on the issue of the confederate which is relevant but I think should not be mistaken for a core solution in that is we are successful and it is removed from government buildings this must not be considered an end but a step:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/25/opinion/tearing-down-the-confederate-flag-is-just-a-start.html?smid=tw-share

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/take-down-the-confederate-flag-south-carolina/2015/06/22/97ee92c0-18f9-11e5-ab92-c75ae6ab94b5_story.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/23/confederate-flag-racism_n_7647194.html

About the amazing and Christ like forgiveness offered by families in Charleston:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-power-of-forgiveness/2015/06/22/a331c77e-190d-11e5-bd7f-4611a60dd8e5_story.html?wprss=rss_michael-gerson

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2015/june-web-only/stop-explaining-away-black-christian-forgiveness.html

A parenting perspective

http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/06/18/with-charleston-shooting-a-time-to-stop-teaching-children-about-the-history-of-racial-violence/?_r=0

Some suggestions on action:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-mae-elise-cannon/charleston-5-things-white-christians-can-do-in-solidarity-with-our-brothers-and-sisters-of-color_b_7628862.html

About the victims because I found their lives and stories so much more important than that of their killer who must be spoken of as his motivations and actions are obviously what bring us to these moments but

…

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/19/us/nine-victims-of-charleston-church-shooting-remembered.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/26/us/clementa-pinckney-felt-called-to-spiritual-and-political-service.html?rref=us&module=Ribbon&version=context&region=Header&action=click&contentCollection=U.S.&pgtype=article

I hope you have found something in these words that move you as they did me to understanding, to outrage, to discomfort, to action. I hope we will all continue to talk, listen and look for ways we can be agents of change, agents of peace, bringers of hope and Shalom in this fallen, broken, messed up world.