The skin on my face is littered with scars from acne outbreaks over a life time. The acne issue has plagued 3 generations on my Father’s side of the family. He had very deep and broad scars from his acne. He was battling acne well into his 50’s as I am now. He would get a dark red or maroon acne bump that would cover a large portion of his face. Taking a hot face cloth with steam from the hot water he would place the cloth on his face causing the acne to release the puss. I was but a youngster and would be amazed at how he would be patient enough to let the hot water be on his face for an afternoon as he watched TV. The acne monster would be on my face just a few years later. I would spend same amount of time applying the hot cloth on my outbreaks in front of the bathroom mirror. Today, my adult daughter had a conversation about her battles with acne. The success of keeping my acne under control came as a result of trying many different things. This is what I have been advising her to do about her acne continue to try different things based on how her skin was reacting to the different treatments. My observations helped my to realized how the acne is trapped in my skin and thus all I needed to do was keep my skin clean. The next thing I learned was to keep my clean skin moisturized. I would always share with her what I did to fight my acne. The remedies I found for me didn’t work for her. She has continued to try and reevaluate the different treatments. She opened up about working with a face mask inorder to prevent covid 19, on her face has cause her to breakout. She had found a successful regimen that was being messed up due to the mask needed to keep from being infected with covid 19. She shared with me her saga of trying to keep her skin clear of acne. She had a realized the food she was eating helped stop her breakouts. The nutrition of the food was what she needed to keep her breakouts to a minimum. The current issue with face mask was a result of the irritation of the mask touching her face all day at work. Many people have skin problems and many have found various solutions but I want to look at the fact that the internal health of my daughter’s body is what she and I agree are the most significant impact she and I can use to keep our skin healthy. The conversation made me see that the internal or hidden things deep in all of us is what determines our health in the spirit as well.
The outer person is what any one with any small measure of wisdom and experience can see the health of anyone. The internal health of an individual however is not something we all can see or help because the internal is hidden and can be critical. The world is full of people like you and me, who can see and respond the outer. We all have the soul which can been hidden and harder to perceived and interacted with because of it’s hidden but vital roll. America has ignored the values and dilemmas of the Black peoples soul. The struggle we are having right now in America is not about just what we can see. The hidden more vital part of life and the lifestyle of Americans black and white must be addressed. The issue of how do we approach the internal based on our experiences.
The protection of black bodies is not an option. America we must protect and insure the protection of black bodies. The bodies of black people must be allowed to thrive and not just survive. The inner life is expressed in the bodies of black people and without a healthy black body the inner life is stifled and will not be able to live in an healthy condition for very long. The body or outer life of anyone is necessary for life. This is a very important part of any life. However, the racial and class divide that is out in the open for all of us to see started in our soul and spirits. The spirit of freedom and justice are invisible forces that are effecting our present time. The issues that surround the protest and outrage around the death of George Floyd started in the inner souls of people. The time I have spent thinking and reacting to the times we live in have led me to ask, What good is it to be a Christian given the challenges? The world needs justice and reconciliation. The role I take in my reaction to this world need must be in line with my Christian beliefs. The people who have taken the led to fight for justice in the George Floyd and Amaud Aubrey murders have continued to exert pressure on America to face the issue of race. The fight for black people to get America to reject and stand against racism and the effects of white supremacy policies and beliefs. Just like the acne my daughter and I abhor; the protest and videos of cops killing and abusing black people and all of the ugly violence and rhetoric about race and our situation are only surface results of internal issues. I have found out that my daughter has found certain vitamins and minerals are often found to be lacking in the body of people who have bad acne issues. She has been taking vitamins in order to boost her vitamin and mineral count. The results have been very convincing and she swears by them. The advent of covid 19 only set her back because the mask showed another skin issue that was aggravated by the mask she is needing to wear at work. The mask is what drove her to try a new topical lotion that is keeping her skin clearer in-spite of the mask. The new issues being confronted on the streets of America must be addressed with the same attitude as my daughter. The first problem of convicting and trying those who perpetrated the murders. The steps following the first response expose the hidden agendas and spirits of everyone involved. This is where I want to introduce Jesus and the remedy he has worked out. The truth is we all are going to have to face the Justice of God. The obvious wicked behavior of racist and murderers will be reckoned. This is like the removal of acne filth from our faces. The acne itself is not gonna be cured without the bacteria and puss being cleaned from one’s face. The return of acne is a result of the internal vitamin and mineral deficiencies the hidden parts of ones body. Jesus is the super physician who desires to have mercy on the body(people) in America with a deep cleaning and a vitamin boost. You may be asking how? The good news is that the issues of injustice and murder and racism are driven by dark forces that have us all in an perpetual state acne breakout. The degree of acne on American souls is gonna be superficially cleaned in these unending cycles of racial divide. My friend be a part of an lasting solution to America’s division. The Kingdom of heaven is calling for our lost souls to be first reconciled to God. Believe God has and shall give out the ultimate judgement on the evil and those who carry out the works of the devil. Once believing in God’s right to judge and sentence evil and wickedness; please trust the Lord Jesus of the bible( not the Micheal Angelo painting), who is coming again. No matter how many times the blonde haired blue eyed Jesus is portrayed in the movies and art and the imaginations of people; this image is just an image, my plea is for you to believe in the invisible God who was slain for the sins of the world before the world was formed. Revelation13:8. The spirit of the American people is more important than the survival of the American dream. The best way to preserve the goodness of America is to be transformed into the goodness of God’s grace through faith in Jesus. The next step in cleaning the acne on the face of our country is to follow a steady regimen of the Holy Spirit’s healthy vitamin mix of responsible civil activity and service based in the love of God through Jesus. The long road ahead is gonna require steadfast love and a faithfulness that is available to us in God. May God build you up in the faith and may His presence comfort and guide you always.
Constance 