Demonstrate, Protest, the words are similar but not the same. The first means, to show clearly, to prove or make clear by reasoning or evidence. Demonstration is an outward expression or display of that reason or evidence. While the word “protest” is more simply “an act of objecting or gesture of disapproval.”
I hate learning; I value knowledge and understanding, just don’t like the process that it requires, particularly at my age. Once you reach the other side of middle age you know that most new knowledge gained requires you to either: admit you were wrong, cost you some money, come with some physical pain or causes you to recognize some needed change in your life.
My generation, the tail end of the hippies, got to witness mass protests not much different than what we are seeing today with the occupy movements. “Occupy” I have to admit is a little more threatening than “Sit in” but my point is we have seen this before. Between then and now we have had other causes that have drawn their share of protestors, everything from farm movements to right to life, from wars to gay rights. There are a lot of similarities in protests, signs, yelling, hampering other people’s movement, and sometimes property destruction and violence. Other than the signs, the crowd’s actions are not much different than the tantrums that I have seen some of my children and grand children perform. Protests are easy, tantrums are easy, demonstrations and solutions are difficult.
I have been blessed in my life and have not faced some tough situations that others have, it’s easy for me say I am pro life, it’s easy for me to say we don’t need government health care, it’s easy for me to say get a job, it’s easy for me to say go back to Mexico, it’s easy for me to say to the gay person you don’t need more rights. Like I said, I have not faced certain difficulties in my life that others face with regularity so it would be easy for me to protest certain actions of others.
However, what should I say; to the teenage single mother to be who has been told her child will have special needs, to the divorced mother of three working two jobs, neither providing needed health insurance, to the 50 year old construction worker who is out of work today with no other skills, or to the Hispanic neighbor who owns his home and has raised a family here?
James 2:16 ….”Go, I wish you well… but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?”
I don’t need to say anything. Solutions require me to do something for someone. If I am pro life, am I willing to demonstrate my belief and adopt a special needs child or take in an unwed mother and baby? Against some form of community health care, am I willing to help that divorced mother working two jobs? Am I willing to start a construction business or mentor a 50 year old man? Am I willing to help my neighbor acquire US citizenship?
James 2:18, … “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.”
I can hear James saying “show me what you believe with signs, show me what you believe by your protests, show me what you believe with your sit ins and your occupancy and I’ll demonstrate what I believe with my actions toward others.” It’s easy to protest, it’s easy to give money to any of a thousand charities. It’s much tougher to give yourself to help one person and teach them what you believe.
What I learned this week; if I am not demonstrating what I believe, I am doing nothing more than occupying space, having my own little sit in, my own little protest. Like I said I hate learning.
David
