Dear Church, Truth in Loveનમૂનો

Day 1: Dear Church, Let’s Tell the Truth

I was in the third grade when my family moved to the United States. At my parents’ first PTA meeting, I expected my teacher’s report to confirm what I already knew—she liked me. After all, I was a good student, and I was usually among those she called on when it was time to assign important jobs like line leader or pet sitter.

Imagine my surprise when, two hours later, my mother came home angry. Apparently, my teacher had said, “Andrena is so smart…it doesn’t even seem like she’s from Africa.”

I have never forgotten the statement or my mother’s response as she recounted the exchange to my father. At nine years old, I didn’t have the language for “microaggressions” or “implicit bias.” All I knew was that my teacher’s compliment carried a sting. Later, I began to understand that there were unspoken rules and hidden hierarchies in the world around me—things I was too young to understand but old enough to feel.

That moment was the beginning of a new kind of awareness. And today, while part of me still longs for the innocence of not knowing, I also now see God’s design: as we grow, we leave behind childish ways and learn to walk in truth (1 Corinthians 13:11).

If the Church is going to reflect God’s heart, then we cannot avoid the hard conversations we'll be having for the next few days. As image-bearers, called to embody His justice, fairness, and radical love, we must tell the truth about the dynamics that divide us. Whether we have knowingly or unknowingly complied with prejudice, or the sting of being on the receiving end has left us shaken, angry, and maybe even resentful, it is becoming increasingly obvious in our current climate that we are long overdue for these conversations. The truth is this: only then can we move toward the healing and reconciliation Christ modeled for us.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for Your grace that calls us to healing and restoration. Thank You for Your creativity, reflected in the colors of creation and in the beautiful diversity of people. Help me see others through Your eyes and give me the courage to tell the truth, even when it is uncomfortable. Amen.