What’s Going On? We need to bring some lovin here today!

Violence, destruction, hate, bigotry, madness, mean-spiritedness, bullying, deteriorating communities, deteriorating human and race relations within our midst. The late singer Marvin Gaye’s song comes in mind, What’s Going On. Think of the words of the song, Mother, mother, There’s too many of you crying. Brother, brother, brother, there’s far too many of you dying. You know we’ve got to find a way to bring some lovin here today. Father, father we don’t need to escalate, you see, war is not the answer, For only love can conquer hate, you know we’ve got to find a way, To bring some lovin here today. Tell me what’s going on.

What’s Going On? Terrence A. Reese comments, “Life is too short to not be open to change or improvement. It’s about growth and exchange. We come here with nothing. We leave here with nothing but the effect we’ve had on others.”

What’s Going On? Tika Sumpter states, “You have to create opportunity for yourself when nobody else will.”

What’s Going On? June study 2014 reported in Essence Magazine tells us, Women in the United States are 11 times more likely to be killed with a gun than in any other developed nation. When States require background checks for gun purchases, there are 38 percent fewer women shot to death by their partners.

What’s Going On? Quoting Essence Magazine after analyzing more than 200,000 cases brought to the Manhattan District Attorney, The Vera Institute of Justice found that Blacks are more likely to be sentenced to prison than Whites, Latinos and Asians, who received plea deals including community service and probation.

What’s Going On? Principles of building solid family bonds includes finding your own way; promoting gratitude; staying close; dropping the drama; and moving out of the past.

What’s Going On? Practice forgiveness, it is good for one’s health. Studies indicate that people who cannot forgive are susceptible to all kinds of illness according to Sally Ann Roberts.

What’s Going On? Love is healing. Bitterness is harmful. Learn to walk in love.

What’s Going On? Rain falls because the clouds can no longer handle the weight. Tears fall because the heart can no longer handle the pain.

What’s Going On? We must learn to come to common ground. We must learn to listen to others’ viewpoints. No one has all of the right answers.

What’s Going On? There is no room or place in our society for the practices of bullying and bigotry. Bully is a person who injures or threatens those he/she perceives as the weaker vessels. Bigotry is the practice of strong into unreasonable attitudes.

What’s Going On? It is a time to bring love, not hate; a time to bring some understanding between races, cultures, and faiths. Mother, mother, there’s too many of you crying. Brother, brother, brother, there’s far too many of you dying. You know we’ve got to find a way to bring some lovin here today. Tell me What’s Going On? God Bless.

Editor’s note: The Rev. George R. Ames Jr. is pastor of the Wesley Chapel Church on the corner of Andrews and Wesley Church Road. He may be reached at home at (410) 221-1880.