8/2/09
Sunday evening
Mood: Reflecting
The senseless murder of Aaron Powell
I have been to several funerals during the last 12 months and in my lifetime. And I attended yet another one yesterday. The lost of a love one or friend is particularly sad. I should know since I lost both my parents by the time I was nineteen years of age, while going to college. But the one I went to yesterday bothered me quite a bit. It was the funeral of my 2nd cousin, age 35, who was cowardly shot in the back of the head. Shot 4 times without mercy, as he leaned over in his parked car to change a CD, while hanging out with so called friends. This happen at approximately 3:30 a.m. in the morning. And oh, by the way, no one seen anything. No one has come forward. Aaron was not just another statistic, he was a human being whom I seen grow up from a toddler. He was someone's son, someone's brother, someone's uncle & someone's father. The tragedy is that his 4 innocent children will now grow up without their Daddy.
And to be murdered at age 35yrs old is not particularly the life span of the average American. The previous funerals I've attended were folks, whom I also feel that their lives were cut short in this sin filled world, but they were in their 70's through age 89. These individuals had the opportunity to see their kids come into adulthood and be part of their grandchildren lives, in which I consider to be an exceptional blessing. These individuals were not murdered by someone who they considered to be a friend but died by natural causes.
From generation to generation we have seen too many pointless killings & violence in the urban core of our cities. Last night I learned that my 17yr old nephew was severely beaten up and his automobile stolen from him, while visiting his girlfriend on Friday night. In approximately the same general area in which my cousin was brutally murdered. As I watched the news last night, at least 2 more senseless murders had occurred in the same area yet another shooting and a fatal stabbing. In the same urban area as the previous mentioned atrocities. These self afflicted crimes against humanity just goes on and on and on.
As the preacher said at Aaron's funeral yesterday, there is truly a "curse" I call it a "sin curse" on our communities not only in Kansas City, but this plagues us across America. Our communities will continue to be cursed until we get tired of it and do something about it. Generations of young people are being wiped out before our very eyes by the spread of HIV/AIDS, violence and incarcerations. It is time, past time, that we get past our petty scaubles in the churches and the doctrinal idiocentricities that divide us. We must meet the youth's needs where they are. We need to be there for them, talk to them, spend time with them. Communicate with them even if they don't want to hear it, but they hear you. The urban youth needs positive roll models besides ballers, rappers and actors. "We all have gifts that God has given each of us individually, USE THEM! And let us not be luke warm" as Darla Roundtree so beautifully stated at her very inspirational but timely concert last night. We must keep it real for the youth because believe it or not, they can spot a fake in a New York second. As Hilary Clinton coined the phrase a few years ago "it takes a village" to raise our children, we must become that village. And most important, let us teach our kids how to love themselves, self love. Because Jesus love them more and paid the ultimate price to prove it. Because "Life Is Too Short"
Point your kids in the right direction—
when they're old they won't be lost. Proverbs 22:6 (The Message)
GOD Bless You.
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