Fear: an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger (Merriam-Webster.Com)

As I watched the opening statements of the trial against Derek Chauvin a sense of fear invaded my happy space.

This fear is embedded in the reality that the justice system has continually failed to return a guilty verdict in spite of recorded evidence going viral for the world to see.

This fear is fueled by the sound of explosives in the night, weeks after the world witnessed the horrific video of a man pinned to the ground with a knee to his neck.

This fear feeds off the memories of justified protest against the system turning into a reason for that system to fearfully react.

This fear grows stronger as I think about the neighborhoods robbed of their peace because opportunist saw this murder, another murder, as a reason to destroy.

This fear is present because I know an acquittal will ignite the rage within those looking for a reason – I also know that a guilty verdict indicates a shift is occurring and those on the losing end are more dangerous than the former.

Eight minutes 46 seconds has become the match to a flame – much like “I can’t breathe”, and “We don’t need you to follow him” – Traffic stops, playgrounds, and the confines of our home have become easily accessible fuel.

Fear is knowing in advance there isn’t a positive outcome to a system failure, but having no control.

“HOPE IS THE ONLY THING STRONGER THAN FEAR” – Robert Ludlum

My thought for tonight: “…. faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1 NIV”

Focus on hope!