Downtown crowds make me wary in light of the mass riots. But my unease defused once I realized the mood of this sign waving cluster.
They did it right.
A peaceful protest with a code of conduct broadcast for all.
Looking for adventure and a break in the sameness of COVID days, the preacher and I slipped out to explore the 300 mile “Highway 82/271 Yard Sale.” On my bucket list resides “The Worlds Largest Garage Sale,” covering Michigan to Alabama—so finding a small sister sale in my backyard piqued my curiosity.
We started in the middle of the route and drove east, but the yard sales appeared as scarce as a cool day in summer—though a treasure lurked amongst the cast-offs at our first stop. For a local historic building remodel, I snagged an amazing vintage chair for twenty dollars. A coat of paint and new upholstery will transform it from pauper to prince.
A stop at a fruit stand for peaches and a bag of kettle corn later, we cruised through the last town on the list with most of our cash intact. To avoid a road retrace, we swung south to a small community with rave reviews. Crammed with shops and eats, Sulphur Springs held promise for a charming stroll around the restored downtown square.
COVID wary, we perused the posted menus and window shopped. More often than not, Mexican food trumps all else in our book, so we settled into a patio table and dove headfirst into warm chips and fresh salsa.
While inhaling the chips, our attention turned to the revelry on the adjacent corner. A gaggle of protesters smiled and waved posters. And one brilliant sign stood above the rest, in its profound message—
Honk if you are for love.
And honk people did. So much that we wondered about the wisdom of our chosen table location. But good will won out over peace and quiet while we watched the love fest–as motorists honked with abandon.
We all know the power of love, but we often forget in the heat of the moment, in the desire to be right, or in the quest for justice. Yet at the drop of a hat, we can recite the love phrases we’ve grown up with—
Love conquers all
Love one another
Love is a many splendored thing
Love makes the world go ‘round
Love one another as He has loved us
Love your neighbor as your self
And during this time of rioting ugliness, what is my response? What good does it do to get caught up in the spewing barbs and the shotgun fire of opinions and fury?
Whether on a street corner or in our Facebook posts— Proverbs 15:1 says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath.”
So stand up for what is right but remember—
The odious action of others does not dictate my response. Love is always the right answer.
My gentle response is going to be love, what is yours?
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10 of my favorite verses from the Psalms about God’s steadfast love:
Eternal Promise
Psalm 23:6-Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
The Greatest Love Ever
Psalm 32:10-Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.
Psalm 33:18-But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.
Psalm 36:5–Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.
Psalm 36:7–How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 63:3-Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
Psalm 86:5-You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.
Psalm 86:15-But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Justice and Vengeance belongs to the Lord
Psalm 33:5-The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.
Psalm 37:28-For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish.