Other Voices

My grandson was born with a severe cardio-pulmonary defect, one that required numerous open-heart surgeries beginning when he was only a matter of days old. (If you aren’t familiar, you’ll find his story on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TeamCohenAllen/)

He also suffered a major gastrointestinal failure that resulted in the removal of much of his small intestine and nearly his entire colon. He is tube-fed. He also has autism and is non-verbal.

Cohen offers many challenges, but I love him more than you can measure. The same goes for his siblings, my older grandson and my granddaughter. They are equal to me.

Cohen has a Facebook page because his life has been so complicated. Putting so much of his experiences on social media is a convenient way to answer many, many questions and to share both the concerns we have and the joys we gain with each little victory.

Some of our friends have a problem when we say, “Black Lives Matter.” They follow up with, “All Lives Matter” as if they feel we are ignoring the needs of the many by focusing on a particular demographic. That's completely false, and here’s why.

His life matters

Cohen’s life matters. When I say that, I’m not raising him above my other grandchildren. I don’t take any of my feelings away from them to give him more. Obviously, their lives matter.

When I say, “Black Lives Matter,” I do so because that’s where the need is great right now. Honestly, that need has been great for at least 400 years, but it's amplified today.

My pastor friends, including (and maybe especially) my former pastor, shouldn't need to be reminded of what we learn from Scripture. I’m certainly no theologian, but I do know a few things. Yet, it seems the following two passages need to be repeated.

If you aren't hearing them from the pulpit now – especially now – then you should be asking your pastor, “Why not?”

Lost sheep

We all learned the Parable of the Lost Sheep, told to us in Matthew and Luke. (My preference is Luke because his writing was so poetic.)

Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the 99 in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

– Luke 15:3-7 NIV

Jesus was saying, “That one sheep? His life matters so much that I would do anything to find him and rescue him, bringing him back to be with me and his brothers.”

Jesus wasn’t saying that one sheep was more important, but that the one sheep had a great need at that time and he was worth saving. The others? They were just as valuable, but they were safe.

Forgive my sermonizing, but I will continue.

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

– Matthew 25:40-45, NIV

Although this passage has been interpreted in many ways, it’s clear to me that Jesus is telling us that how we treat those around us reflects on how we feel about Him. So if you can’t feel the urgency to help those who need it right now, how can He count on you to respond to Him? In fact, how do you know He isn't calling out to you right now?

(deep breath ... and ... exhale)

In summation, I will say, “Black Lives Matter” because that is the need that I hear calling out to me right now.

If you disagree – and if you continue to shield behind “All Lives Matter” – then I’m sorry but I don’t know how else to communicate this except to say that you're missing the point.

And you're missing the opportunity to do what's right.

Editor’s Note: Martin Bakner is the Herald’s bookkeeper.

The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of other Herald employees, or the Herald’s owners or advertisers.

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