No More Excuses

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I am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung over at our Five Minute Friday website. Today’s word prompt is “excuse.” We would love to have you join us. 

A Jewish infant whose cries came into the world after a deep holy breath as the world sighed. Moments before, his parents came to the inn. But there was no room for them there. It wasn’t an excuse but was the reality of the moment. So this child is born in a manger in Bethlehem.

This child who cries, poops, and laughs in all of his humanity. As a child, there are no excuses from him either. He continues to be the Messiah; the one sent to share the message of the Gospel.

Jesus hangs on a cross crying out, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.” A crown of thorns upon his head. The blood dripping from the nails in his hands and feet. He breathes his last.

Jesus wasn’t afraid to stand up for what was right. He never made excuses for being the world changer. *Perhaps we can learn from his example. I know that we aren’t always going to agree, but God calls us “to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.”

#TakeAKnee isn’t about love of country. It is about freedom of expression. This football player is not ungrateful. He is simply asking us to do and be better. And I know this opinion is not in the norm but I’m no longer making excuses. Im speaking up and out. I’m covenanting to truly listen to why others believe what they believe.

And #TakeAKnee is just a starting place.

No more excuses!

*Where my five minutes ended. This final spot is something I’ve been wanting and needing to say. I’m open to listening to all sides. I just think we must not judge less we be judged. So tonight I stepped outside my comfort zone with these words. Be gentle friends!

20 thoughts on “No More Excuses”

  3. Thanks for sharing this Tara. I’m with you. My initial reaction was negative but sometimes I think we focus on nationalism as if we worship it. Mostly though, it’s because I want to understand our differences.

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  5. I agree, it would make a big difference if we would learn to listen to one another more and show respect for different opinions, trying to understand rather than it turning into an argument.

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  6. I am SO glad you stepped out of your comfort zone! My thoughts/feelings about #takeaknee have evolved (are evolving?). One of the best arguments/discussions I heard had to do with how the whole thing has transformed into a different message than was originally intended (and I am sure there are arguments about that too….). But the interviewee was talking about how the first player to do it was trying to send a message about police brutality, and that many of the players may be massively rich now but they within the last year, two, or three of their lives were in places where they saw inequity daily — and they still get text messages from friends and family members seeing mistreatment daily. It’s hard to squeeze into a comment (so I ask everyone’s kindness to me too) but …. listening seems to be the starting point. There’s no excuse not to.

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