We don’t even know each other…
- Verona L. Jacobs, Poet, Author
- Jun 2, 2020
- 2 min read
We don’t even know each other
I recall helping someone in crisis, years ago, via phone
I didn’t know them…they didn’t know me
Both present in that moment in time…in the midst of the situation
They couldn’t see me…I couldn’t see them
I knew…but they didn’t know
On day 3 of this newly formed relationship…
In this crisis to life-changing moment…
We established a trust…they trusted me enough to go get the help they needed…
I entrusted them to God, in prayer
I was excited and grateful when I got the call that they showed up for help
Still sight unseen…
It turned out that the person that I helped over those 3 days…
Had hatred in their heart for people who looked like me
As they expressed this to the one helping them…in person…
Time and time again with the derogatory term that was created…
To keep people who look like me in our perceived place…bondage
After hearing enough…the one they sat before pointed out…
The disrespect of an entire race of people
Although the one helping, in person…did not look like me…
But like the one being helped…
She didn’t think like them…her heart was different
She needed them to know that the group of people that they were disrespecting…
In such a derogatory way…were my people…my culture…parents…siblings…
Children…aunts…uncles…cousins…friends…even those unknown…
They were me…the same one that the one who was in crisis…
Trusted…confided in…praised and had expressed gratitude…
For the genuine care and concern they received…when they had no place to turn
When they found out that the one who helped them didn’t look like them…they wept
And thank God, in that moment…they had a change of heart
I don’t know what happened in their life leading up to that moment…
Or what has happened since…
But I believe that that experience was a setup by God…for them and for me
Because they expressed remorse to the one sitting before them…
It was a message to me that people with hatred in their hearts…
For people who look like me…or for anyone who is different from them…
Can have a change of heart…if they choose to
We need more people like the one who didn’t look like me…
But did not remain silent to the disrespect…
Because of her humanity…She was the true Agent of Change
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