I was there when it all began
I saw her hanging with one she shouldn’t
I heard him probing, seeking a foothold
I heard her tell a little lie that hurt no one
I heard him hang on that lie, promising more
I saw her light up in false hope. I should have
Stepped up to him: I didn’t want to get involved
I should have stepped in for her: I didn’t want
To kill her joy so I held my peace and let him
Deceive her, capture her, lure her away captive
Little did I know that my silence was the consent
That dug her grave and mine.

Food For Thought: Like the enemy missed the connection between the Shepherd and the sheep, between Christ and His body, so also we miss the connection we have with one another. We often say, “I want to mind my business which he is not.” “I don’t want to get involved, it’s not my monkey.” Fortunately or unfortunately, we are all connected, one to the other. As the head is connected to the body, and the different parts of the bodies are all interconnected, both directly and indirectly, so are we in Christ. What affects one affects the other. Maybe to varying degrees but the certainty of that interconnectedness is irrefutable. We are all God’s creation. We are related by the blood of Christ. That is why God’s Word encourages us to care for one another, to look out for each other. It is possible Adam felt that day, that the consequences of disobedience would be limited to Eve. He didn’t realize that once she ate, he was in and with both down, the rest is history. All the labels of color, gender, race, position, possession, among others stand not before God. To Him, we are all the same: humans made in His image, after His likeness. God didn’t put those labels on us, we fabricate and tag them on one another. And rather than bridge obvious gaps, our labels push us farther apart and what should enrich keeps dividing and turning us against each other. Yet, whether we acknowledge and accept it or not, we are all related. We are all connected, one way or the other and whatever hurts one hurts all. How often have we said, silently or through tears, “Had I known…?” Now we know: may our lifestyles reflect that we know better.

Scripture: Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. Psalm 1: 1.

Prayer: Dear Lord, my kind efforts can land me in the trouble I seek to avoid, help me to learn from Your example, to know when to hold my peace, when to speak up and how to do so, in order not to lose it, amen.