Standing Together in Unjust TimesSample

Offer Your Hands and Feet

One of the things that prevents us from undertaking activities that would aid the pursuit of justice is the false idea that we have nothing to offer someone who is suffering, and nothing of value to lend to a complex justice issue. We incorrectly believe that we are unable to make a difference because we lack financial means, expertise, or influence. The truth is that the world needs each and every one of us. 

The Montgomery Bus Boycott—a pivotal moment in the history of the civil rights movement—is a profound example of what can happen when people realize that they can, indeed, meaningfully contribute to a cause by sharing their own resources, no matter how small or limited those resources might be. You’re probably familiar with the story of Rosa Parks, an African American activist who, in 1955, was arrested for refusing to vacate her seat for a White bus patron. It was her courage that would galvanize an oppressed group of people into action. The Montgomery Bus Boycott was able to sustain itself for a whole year afterward, thanks to the solidarity of a group of people who came together to offer whatever they had. 

The pursuit of social justice in today’s world is no different. Each contribution matters when we are taking a stand together. Rosa Parks offered her courage to her community. Her community, in turn, offered physical resources like cars as well as abstract resources like time. As people chose to walk to their various destinations instead of taking the bus, they snubbed public transportation in solidarity with Rosa Parks and the civil rights movement. Everyone had something to offer. You do too.

There are always a number of issues to which we can give our time, finances, or expertise. But it’s typically at the intersection of own past hurts and current passions where we find our true cause to champion: the issue by which we’re most profoundly moved and for which we can make the biggest impact in the lives of others. This is the kind of work God calls us to.

Every community has a different set of challenges, and unpacking exactly which issues face yours is paramount to learning where you’re needed. So begin to ask questions. Look around at your own community. What do you see?

As you start to become aware of the issues in your own community, what ideas about possible solutions or relief are beginning to take shape in your mind?

How can you leverage your skills or gifts to make a meaningful difference in your community?