Where were you when...?

Lately I've watched this interaction, or a variation of it, take place a lot on my social media feed...Person A posts an article point out an injustice they have observed carried out by a group or government and invites others call for reform/justice.Person B comments that this occurred just years prior and no one spoke up, the media might not even had reported on it.Person A states that we need to do some thing about it.Person B responds with a meme that slightly mocks Person A and the fact that these things happened prior.Person B follows by asking "Where were you when this happened before? Where was your outrage then?"The conversation then continues on slowly growing away from the point of the main post - with both individuals who would each say they care about justice unwilling to say that agree with each other and to come together to call out the actions currently taking place because they can't fully agree on other things not directly connected to the issue posted.In the midst of all of this, those individuals experiencing the injustice are forgotten about, becoming chips to be played in a conversation defending an ideology.Of course, this isn't a perfect example but I think we have all seen this in some manner.It is in those moments I see how stubborn we have become.I see how much work there is to be done.I am overwhelmed with despair as it seems so hopeless.And for those of us who call ourselves Christians, I have seen how much we all have aligned our religious devotion to that of the state.  Whether liberal or conservative, we have chosen to believe that questioning anything or doubting in the slightest of whatever ideology we hold somehow weakens it or makes it less authoritative.This is simply not true.A liberal challenging liberal leaders doesn't make you any less of a liberal.A conservative challenging conservative policies doesn't make you any less of a conservative.Challenge. Doubt. Question. These are things that make us better humans, makes better communities, and makes a better world for all. Challenge, doubt, and question remind us that we haven't arrived, that we have blind-spots, that we've hurt others, and that we need to keep seeking a better way.Whenever a conversation pivots to the "where were you when...?" types of things, we have already made a step away from engaging the present. This is not to say that we don't need engage and make right what happened in the past; but rather we must never forget that the present matters. The present is where we can choose to not repeat or continue on the injustices of the past.  And because of that we should never downplay play when people or groups become aware or are awoken of injustices because there will always been a time that we all can look back and say we were naive to the struggles and oppression experienced by others in the world.What if in the example above Person B would have first responded with some thing like, 'Wow, I'm in. Let's call this out!' Then followed up in another comment or in a direct message saying 'Hey, there's lots to be done. Let's work together on this and also I've seen stuff like this happen in our past, want to join me in helping to right those wrongs as well? I'd love to tell you more.'Sure, Person A might not jump at the opportunity to engage but at least we are reminded of a shared bond for justice. Person A might express lament or outrage in a manner on the injustice in a way we don't agree with or understand but that doesn't mean we discount it.  The experience of injustice is an ache none of us can really hold and what it manifests inside of us must be expressed, it needs to be expressed, because it is a witness, a prophetic witness if you will, to the world that things are not right and things must change.Maybe all of this is a naive notion of what could occur but it captures my imagination as to what we might do and challenges me to engage anyone I interact with in a manner that invites us both to work together.And might it do the same for you._ _Today, may we seek to stay in the present.May we be a prophetic witnesses to the world.May we hear and respond to the calls to stand for justice wherever they may be found.May we say truth to power, may we call for reform and accountability.May we choose the side of the oppressed.May we seek understanding so that we might grow together.And may we remember the past, hope for the future, and engage the present as fully as possible.