Justice–Equality–Unity & Compassion… Hello Hump Day readers. Did you know that July 2 is National Civil Rights Act Day? Today is the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This law was a hard-fought victory for civil rights activists and leaders. On this day in 1964, President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law, preventing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. The act essentially ended segregation in public places. It also banned employment discrimination, and led to other landmark civil rights bills: 1965 Voting Rights Act, which outlawed voter discrimination; the 1968 Fair Housing Act, which also outlawed housing discrimination for those of ‘color’.

For me this day IS Justice! This is the Equality that God has made for us and this is the Unity that Jesus wanted for his children. And doing so wraps up one powerful thing: compassion! I remember my parent’s sharing about ‘no negroes on my bus or using the water fountain, etc.’ How sick is this? God’s tears must have been a deluge.

So, here we are at this time and what is happening? It reminds me of what was happening in 1964! We have ramped up bigotry, hatred for others who are not ‘white’ and of course, if they aren’t born here then they need to go back to their origins. Really? How about us? Who was here on this land before it was called America? Thousands of people, indigenous people and how did we treat them? You know the story, and sadly it continues. The politics are working hard to break treaties so they can mine uranium and dig-baby-dig for oil and so much more. Did you know that many Navajos in the early uranium mines lost their lives early—no one told them the consequences of uranium’s deadly toxins-after all they were just Indians so who cares?

So, what should we do? Just sit around and wait or be pro-active and help these people. Here is another study about this from the Pew Research and get ready to gulp: over 62% of folks who say they believe in God don’t want anything to do with helping others—especially those who are not “their color of skin.” Yep, go ahead and weep right along with our Lord.

What does Scripture say about all of this—LOTS. The first one emphasizes equality and unity. “Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ-everyone is included in Christ.” Colossians 3:9-11 [MSG]

The second emphasizes justice and compassion. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted and to announce that captives shall be released and the blind shall see, the downtrodden shall be freed from their oppressors, and that God is ready to give blessings to ALL who come to him.” Luke 4:18-19 [Living Bible]

If this devotion bothers you, it is time to think about these Scriptures above and many more. We can easily shut ourselves out of what is happening in our society, but that is NOT what the Lord tells us to do. God sent Jesus to preach the ‘Good News’ and Jesus tells us to do likewise. He has given us talents for all kinds of things to help one another so we cannot say “I can’t do that!” Take sometime today to think what this day means for so many people and then have a deep conversation with the Lord. Don’t be surprised if he says to you: “He has told you, mortal one, what is good and what does the Lord require of you? … but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Nuff said… AMEN.