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Remaining Spiritual During Crisis Remaining spiritual during COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement is challenging, especially if you are black and LGBTQ. BY R E V. D O N N A DAV I S ( Y P i R )
As
I look around at the world, it seems to be ripping apart. Our nation is divided into different people all shouting about their ancestors and how they were wronged in the past. As a black lesbian on the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic, I am torn between wanting to stand with my Black Lives Matter brothers and sisters and working to save the lives of some who may not even like the color of my skin. How do we see past all the hurt? How do we rise out of all this ancestral pain? I have a white friend that said to me that he felt like he was suffering because of the deeds done by his forefathers with the movement. He is angry and feels like “they should just get over it.” We all have a past. We all have some form of ancestral drama. Especially those who feel ostracized by their very family that should love and accept them. As LGBTQ people, some have had this fight and much more. Hurt people hurt others. I have heard this said time and again and it is the real crux of the matter. We must realize that we are all born as perfect in the eyes of God. We come into the experience that is humanity with wide open hearts and joy in our soul. We are curious about the world and everything around us. I invite you to take a moment to think about the other
side. No matter how hard they seem. Try to think about that little child that was taught to hurt others. I smile at white faces, even the ones who don’t want to smile back. Even those who say snide comments and may in their hearts want to wipe my dark face from their sight and from this planet. I beam love and smile at them. I know that there is a child who is hurt somewhere in them calling for love. Love is the only thing that will bring people together. Pray for them. Jesus said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing.” They are coming from pain. Love is the ultimate healer in all things. Love for those who may hate us and love for the healing of the planet. Covid-19 came to warn us that we needed to pay attention to the planet. We just needed to stop and give Nature a chance to breathe. Covid-19 forced us to take a collective break. The wound is being shown to us right now. It is time for us to rise to occasion and heal our planet and humanity with love.
An interfaith minister and life coach, DONNA DAVIS utilizes her life experiences to empower other people overcome their struggles. Together with her wife, Norma, they manage Your Phoenix is Rising, a transformation coaching service focused on helping others rise from the darkness of despair and embrace their true Light Nature. Donna and Norma raised three biological children and served as legal guardians to several teenaged friends of their children during their time of need. Donna is a Registered Nurse at Parralion HCA Shared Services and Performance Director at Centers for Spiritual Living Ocala. She studied RN at Rasmussen College and psychology at Florida Atlantic University.
ILLUSTRATION BY: NOTIONPIC
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