TRAYVON
Something awful happened on February 26th. According to reports, an imperfect teenager (aren't they all?) was spending his 10-day suspension from school at his dad's girlfriend's home. I don't know why he stayed there--maybe, she was home during the day and could make sure Trayvon wasn't smoking more marijuana (which is what he got suspended for). I do know that smoking a few joints--or even having an addiction to marijuana is not punishable by death (at least in America).
On that fateful day, 17-year old Trayvon, went to the store to buy candy and iced tea. Walking through the gated community in Sanford, Florida on his way back to the home where he was staying, he encountered George Zimmerman. By almost every account, Trayvon became a victim, that day. I question any account that makes him anything other than a victim--and the heart of the person giving that account; I am being honest (about my judgmental biases). No matter how I look at this, George Zimmerman couldn't have been a victim--but the perpetrator. George Zimmerman weighs over 200 lbs, while Trayvon Martin weighed only 140. It is doubtful that Trayvon chose Mr. Zimmerman, who was driving an SUV, while Trayvon was on foot--with his only weapons being Skittles and a can of iced tea. Somehow, Mr. Zimmerman saw Trayvon Martin as a threat to his safety, or perhaps his way of life, because he exited his car armed with a Tek-9 and began to follow him (even after he called police, and they instructed him not to do so). In my heart, I believe Mr. Zimmerman saw an opportunity to get rid of one more of them, and be "covered" with an excuse. I could be wrong, it's just a feeling.
There is so much that arises out of this case. This one post couldn't possible deal with it all. Racism--and its pervasiveness in America, how black people respond to racism, our justice system, etc., but as usual, I want to talk about the heart. Or, more correctly, two hearts.
Both Trayvon and Mr. Zimmerman had hearts. Neither of them were perfect--both were flawed. We all are. In the 17 years of Trayvon's life, I'm sure he'd done a lot of dumb things--especially in the last 3 or 4, like most kids. At some point, if given the opportunity, he probably would have looked back and wished he hadn't put his parents through so many headaches. Since, he was a pretty good student, Trayvon most likely would have attended college (hoodie and all--perfect attire for the college campus, you know), and maybe been a very successful person, or maybe just a man with a j-o-b. Whatever, he did with that part of his life, my hope for him is that he would have developed as a godly man, and raised godly children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, breaking the cycle of divorce and separation that happened in his family. It could have happened. I am not saying that Trayvon is in Hell--I have no way of knowing that--grace is in God's Hand; but I am saying that opportunity to be a great man of God, able to do great exploits for the Kingdom of God was snatched away--and that pleases the adversary of our souls. So, I am grieved not only by the natural loss, or the loss his parents and family members have suffered, but also for the possibility of a great man of valor in God's Kingdom--we just don't know why satan wanted him destroyed at such a young age; but he did.
George Zimmerman, a hispanic white man, but clearly more white than hispanic (his name isn't Jorge, and his last name is Zimmerman), still has an opportunity to do what is right. As long as we have breath in us, we can change. The problem for him though, is that he deems himself right, if only on the surface. As long as we contend that we are right, we will not repent and seek forgiveness for the wrong that we have done. It doesn't appear that Mr. Zimmerman, in his 28 years has had to do a lot of repenting. This isn't the first time he's been in trouble. On record ( the son of a retired Orange County magistrate judge and court clerk), has been arrested for domestic violence, resisting an officer without violence and most shockingly, resisting an officer with violence — a felony charge. All of those cases were closed without any charges. If, there had been charges, Mr. Zimmerman certainly would not have been able to purchase (and get a license for) the handgun he used to kill Trayvon Martin. Even now, after this tragedy, his father still covers for him, not recognizing the great harm he does to his son in not teaching him to accept responsibility for wrongdoing. One day, he will not be able to shield his son from the terror that awaits--it would be better to let him learn the lesson in this life.
We should pray for George Zimmerman. He deserves to be punished--so do we all, but if we all got what we deserved, where would we be? In the midst of his punishment pray for the mercy of God, that his soul might be saved, and that he will be able to admit truthfully what really exists in his heart. Pray that whether in prison or not, he will find the Truth. He has the chance to not only have his life transformed, but to lead others to Christ, too. George Zimmerman could actually go to prison, have a prison ministry that causes hundreds to come to Christ--and, when they are released they touch others, and so on. Then, this tragedy will have purpose--that's how God turns the evil satan planned around for our good. What satan tried to stop by destroying Trayvon's life and ministry (in the future), God can fufill through George Zimmerman. It would be just like God to do something like that! So, don't hate, just pray.
Pray for his father, too; and all parents who think that parenting is giving your children whatever they want and protecting them from every difficulty in life, so that they never learn the value of life, and accepting responsibility. Children raised this way, are emotional cripples as adults--people who can't function when things don't go their way.
George Zimmerman has a soul, and somewhere inside is the need for God. He may not--probably does not recognize the yearning and lack of fulfillment. He is angry and violent for a reason. Hurt people, hurt people. Aggression comes from somewhere--it has a root. There's more to the story than meets the natural eye.
Pray for all those involved. Especially, family, prosecutors, judges--because this is a highly charged case; pray for safety and salvation.
Love one another.
On that fateful day, 17-year old Trayvon, went to the store to buy candy and iced tea. Walking through the gated community in Sanford, Florida on his way back to the home where he was staying, he encountered George Zimmerman. By almost every account, Trayvon became a victim, that day. I question any account that makes him anything other than a victim--and the heart of the person giving that account; I am being honest (about my judgmental biases). No matter how I look at this, George Zimmerman couldn't have been a victim--but the perpetrator. George Zimmerman weighs over 200 lbs, while Trayvon Martin weighed only 140. It is doubtful that Trayvon chose Mr. Zimmerman, who was driving an SUV, while Trayvon was on foot--with his only weapons being Skittles and a can of iced tea. Somehow, Mr. Zimmerman saw Trayvon Martin as a threat to his safety, or perhaps his way of life, because he exited his car armed with a Tek-9 and began to follow him (even after he called police, and they instructed him not to do so). In my heart, I believe Mr. Zimmerman saw an opportunity to get rid of one more of them, and be "covered" with an excuse. I could be wrong, it's just a feeling.
There is so much that arises out of this case. This one post couldn't possible deal with it all. Racism--and its pervasiveness in America, how black people respond to racism, our justice system, etc., but as usual, I want to talk about the heart. Or, more correctly, two hearts.
Both Trayvon and Mr. Zimmerman had hearts. Neither of them were perfect--both were flawed. We all are. In the 17 years of Trayvon's life, I'm sure he'd done a lot of dumb things--especially in the last 3 or 4, like most kids. At some point, if given the opportunity, he probably would have looked back and wished he hadn't put his parents through so many headaches. Since, he was a pretty good student, Trayvon most likely would have attended college (hoodie and all--perfect attire for the college campus, you know), and maybe been a very successful person, or maybe just a man with a j-o-b. Whatever, he did with that part of his life, my hope for him is that he would have developed as a godly man, and raised godly children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, breaking the cycle of divorce and separation that happened in his family. It could have happened. I am not saying that Trayvon is in Hell--I have no way of knowing that--grace is in God's Hand; but I am saying that opportunity to be a great man of God, able to do great exploits for the Kingdom of God was snatched away--and that pleases the adversary of our souls. So, I am grieved not only by the natural loss, or the loss his parents and family members have suffered, but also for the possibility of a great man of valor in God's Kingdom--we just don't know why satan wanted him destroyed at such a young age; but he did.
George Zimmerman, a hispanic white man, but clearly more white than hispanic (his name isn't Jorge, and his last name is Zimmerman), still has an opportunity to do what is right. As long as we have breath in us, we can change. The problem for him though, is that he deems himself right, if only on the surface. As long as we contend that we are right, we will not repent and seek forgiveness for the wrong that we have done. It doesn't appear that Mr. Zimmerman, in his 28 years has had to do a lot of repenting. This isn't the first time he's been in trouble. On record ( the son of a retired Orange County magistrate judge and court clerk), has been arrested for domestic violence, resisting an officer without violence and most shockingly, resisting an officer with violence — a felony charge. All of those cases were closed without any charges. If, there had been charges, Mr. Zimmerman certainly would not have been able to purchase (and get a license for) the handgun he used to kill Trayvon Martin. Even now, after this tragedy, his father still covers for him, not recognizing the great harm he does to his son in not teaching him to accept responsibility for wrongdoing. One day, he will not be able to shield his son from the terror that awaits--it would be better to let him learn the lesson in this life.
We should pray for George Zimmerman. He deserves to be punished--so do we all, but if we all got what we deserved, where would we be? In the midst of his punishment pray for the mercy of God, that his soul might be saved, and that he will be able to admit truthfully what really exists in his heart. Pray that whether in prison or not, he will find the Truth. He has the chance to not only have his life transformed, but to lead others to Christ, too. George Zimmerman could actually go to prison, have a prison ministry that causes hundreds to come to Christ--and, when they are released they touch others, and so on. Then, this tragedy will have purpose--that's how God turns the evil satan planned around for our good. What satan tried to stop by destroying Trayvon's life and ministry (in the future), God can fufill through George Zimmerman. It would be just like God to do something like that! So, don't hate, just pray.
Pray for his father, too; and all parents who think that parenting is giving your children whatever they want and protecting them from every difficulty in life, so that they never learn the value of life, and accepting responsibility. Children raised this way, are emotional cripples as adults--people who can't function when things don't go their way.
George Zimmerman has a soul, and somewhere inside is the need for God. He may not--probably does not recognize the yearning and lack of fulfillment. He is angry and violent for a reason. Hurt people, hurt people. Aggression comes from somewhere--it has a root. There's more to the story than meets the natural eye.
Pray for all those involved. Especially, family, prosecutors, judges--because this is a highly charged case; pray for safety and salvation.
Love one another.
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