NCMSLC

I am currently in Atlanta, Georgia. I am here to attend the National Christian Multicultural Student Leaders Conference in a continuing effort to learn about my favorite topic…people!

In the past few days I have met student leaders and staff members from about a dozen universities from around the country. Actually, when I say “met” I mean sat down at conference tables and discussed intimidating topics such as “Racism on Christian Campuses” and “Campus Reactions to President Obama.”

In the midst of these many small and large group conversations, we have explored the history of racism in America. Today, we talked about the history of racism in the United States and actually visited the memorial and museum of Martin Luther King Jr.

I have to admit to spending a lot of the day wondering if I was crying. I have been pretty short on sleep this weekend, so the mix of that with some pretty emotional topics has created a situation that has mixed badly with my mascara.

I can’t say that I have been introduced to a lot of “new” information this weekend, but I feel like this experience hit the “refresh” button on my heart-meaning that it took ideas and knowledge that I had already absorbed at some point and it made them fresh again. I count that as a good thing-but not an easy thing. This had given me a glimpse of what it means to have one’s heart broken for the things that breaks God’s heart.

Something else that has really taken root in my heart this weekend is the same verse that has plagued me over the past few years…

“Everyone should be slow to speak, quick to listen and slow to become angry” James 1:19

As I sit at these tables and try to engage in this discussion, I feel an extreme call to shut up and learn everything that I possibly can. In so many places, i do not know what I am talking about…all that I know is my own story. In this process, I believe that my greatest tools have to be my ears. I need to go into conversations with no expectations and no intention to speak until I have spent some real time listening first.