APPROPRIATE TIME

“There is an occasion/season for everything, and a time for every desire under heaven.”
-Ecclesiastes 3:1

I spoke recently with a group of kids about the decisions we make in life and how some can be a dead end. I showed individual street signs and asked what each meant. The kids were doing great - until we got to the ominous Yield sign. I quickly comforted them by saying, “We live in Texas. Nobody really knows what that means.”

There’s been a lingering heated buzz about a former NFL player and his protest during the National Anthem to highlight social injustice and police brutality in the United States of America.

People in the “support” camp point to a certain military veteran as “proof” it’s undoubtedly the right thing to do. Some have gone so far as to say, “If you’re not kneeling, or behind those who do, you’re advocating police brutality and denying freedom of expression/speech.”

People in the “anti” camp point to our culture’s tradition of standing during the Anthem as “proof” there’s something inherently wrong with sitting or kneeling. Some have gone so far as to say, “Kick ‘em off the team,” “Go live somewhere else if you don’t like it here,” and much more “colorful” statements...

While both camps champion their freedom of expression/speech - with the zeal of Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death!” - it’s quickly omitted when opposing views fail to resonate with personal beliefs.

As a republic, our great country provides for and ardently defends freedom of expression/speech. Therefore, intrinsically, we all know that’s not the real issue. In this case, it’s not really “what” the “support” campers are doing (freely expressing themselves) or “why” they’re doing it (advocating social justice and reform). The real issue is “how” they do it… more specifically “when.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1 states, “There is an occasion/season for everything, and a time for every desire under heaven.”

Is there a time for people to stand up for social justice and reform? Undoubtedly.

Is there a time for people to stand up for what Old Glory represents? Absolutely.

When the two collide, like a Texan and a Yield sign, what gives?

There’s an old saying, “There’s a time and a place for everything.” In our contemporary culture, we've lost virtually all sensitivity to this fact.

In the South, it’s typically not okay to wear a hat in church. But what do you do when the new visitor does? Throw a fit? Have a deacon toss them out? Or do members of the church family lovingly tolerate the behavior in order to establish common ground and make long-term investments in relational equity?

The problem in America has nothing to do with agreeing on freedom of expression or the need for social justice and reform. The problem is we’ve lost virtually all sensitivity regarding appropriate timing.

If a player wants to protest peacefully - great. There’s a time and a place for that. Host a press conference. Set up a GoFundMe campaign. Partner with an apparel company for a greater collaborative impact. Speak at schools. Get involved with and serve local law enforcement and emergency responders. But kneel during the Anthem?

We're the UNITED States of America, but what exactly are we UNITED on?

Maybe we could start with agreeing there’s an appropriate occasion for everything. Maybe during special moments set apart as a collective “Thank you!” to the men and women who serve(d) and died to make freedom possible - maybe we could simply agree that’s not the most appropriate time to kneel in protest?

Maybe finding common ground on appropriate timing could translate into our becoming actual advocates of the freedoms and social justice we’re currently divided over - and fighting for?

The Bible is right. There really is an occasion/season for everything, and truly a time for every desire under heaven.

Maybe the appropriate time for us to figure it out together is here at the Yield sign and not waiting 'til the Dead End.

Blessings,
-Kevin M. Kelley
aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com