THE HUMAN RACE
by Sandra Dorsainvil
Yes, you, from the North, South, East and West
You, the human race
Come and be seen.
Are you ready to sit, stand, observe, be of good trouble?
Are you ready to be the change agents, bridge builders, out spoken peace makers?
Come and let the world know YOU exist.
Come and wave the flag of peace, walking with purple armor of royalty,
Revealing gold shoes for the promised land
And sharpening poetic tongues of truth.
Come and be seen.
You are made in God’s image.
The Cloud of witnesses have made their footprints.
Now it is your turn to let the world know you exist.
It is time to wake up, human race.
It is time to see and be seen, to notice and be noticed,
To walk and be held, to run and be picked up, to speak and not be silenced,
To be heard as the hands and feet of Our Lord and Savior.
Yesterday, you were prayed up.
Today, you come from North, South, East and West.
Pick up your mantle, human race.
Come and be seen!
The journey leading to this poem:
I was introduced to music composer and contemporary poet Joe Davis with his song “Show Up” inviting us all to show up. I found myself listening to the song a few times. As I listened, a poem was being birthed in my spirit with a clear rhythm associated with the words Come and Be SeenWhat does it take to be seen? What does it take for all of us, the human race, to come and be present as God’s ambassadors of mercy, peace and love at places? I did not label the hues of the human race, because I want us all to be recognized. We are made in God’s image, hence beautifully and beloved with all the nuances of our hues.
This is not a time to question the validity of our presence. History books have been written on lived experiences about the “no’s” being given to many.
Now is the time, to be present and claim our rightful place at all the roundtables; whether boardroom tables, congregational tables, leadership tables, sandcastle tables. We have heard many excuses in the past, from “I cannot find you” to “I don’t know where to look” to “I did not grow up with diversity in my community.”
Well, human race it is time to come and be seen, be heard, be listened to, be prayed up and keep on speaking. Because, if we don’t, the silences contribute to more centuries of missed opportunities for greater and deeper peacemaking roundtables, tea and coffee sharing and breaking bread.
Rev. Sandra Dorsainvil is the Director of Short-Term Mission for International Ministries of the American Baptist Churches. She has read her poetry in many settings, including some with Peace Warriors Dan and Sharon Buttry present. They were so moved by her poems that they invited Rev. Dorsainvil to share in a guest blog.
I love Sandra’s poem.
Provoking!