January 11, 2021
Dear community,
Like many of you , I have been engaged in numerous conversations about the insurrection that took place at the national capitol last week. And like many of you, I ache for this country. As I watched the scenes of the angry and vicious mobs, I felt terrorized. People from all backgrounds, elected officials, judges, lawyers, teachers, business executives, and yes-christians engaged in this subversive behavior. It took me back to the Jim Crow era when lynching black bodies was an occasion to celebrate white supremacy. Why are we still here? The detrimental psychological impact of mental fatigue and racial trauma increases with incidents such as what happened last Wednesday. Since the terrorist attack on the nation’s capital, I have received numerous phone calls from family, friends and community members expressing concerns about their health and safety. It is painful to see history repeating itself. When will it stop?
In the past year, it feels like we have been pushed 10 steps backwards. Yet, I am not not writing today to make a political statement about systemic racism or white supremacy — we all know the magnitude of this problem. Rather, I am writing to urge this nation to wake up and commit to fighting for peace and unity — for sanity and healing. There is nothing to be gained with anger, division and hatred. We cannot win by fighting against each other.
We are all tired and sickened by this chaos and rivalry between races and political parties. It is leading our nation into a war zone and unimaginable mental and physical health crisis. Incidents like these are direct and vicarious trigger stressers. Every day, we are reminded of the horror of covid that is claiming the lives of over 3,000 people in our nation daily. At the same time, we are dealing with racial and political dissension that is literally killing people. The cost of this anger, hostility and division is deadly and it needs to stop. Maintaining a healthy and constructive attitude and approach to these situations takes incredible strength and effort, but we can and must do it for our own physical and mental health and the health of our nation.
We expect more and deserve more from all of our leaders and elected officials. We challenge each of them to commit to the oath they made to protect and serve this nation in truth and justice. Their words and actions matter. We charge them to stand for peace, unity and healing.
We need to pray, practice humility, die to our own self interest and beliefs; turn away from wrongdoing and seek God for forgiveness, wisdom and direction. He is our way forward to healing, peace and unity. As a Christian woman, I beseech you to follow the path of Christ, who said in II Chronicles 7:14, “if my people, who are called by my name would humble themselves and pray; and seek my face; and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their land”. My friends, this is the path forward.
In the Spirit of Peace, Unity and Healing
Vanessa Greene, CEO
