Blog
A collection of weekly reflections written by BLK South community and board members.
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Every Shut Eye Ain't Sleep and Every Good Bye Ain't Gone.
Every shut eye ain't sleep, and every goodbye ain't gone.” Through the wisdom of Grandma Bea, this reflection explores the power of discernment and hope, reminding us that things are not always as they seem. From overlooked voices to communities the world has written off, we are invited to look beyond appearances, trust that God is still at work, and remember that what the world buries, God often plants.
Facing the Storm
What keeps us going when the work of justice feels like an endless fight? In “Facing the Storm,” Desireé Lucas draws on her Black Pentecostal upbringing, the wisdom of church mothers, and Frederick Douglass’s witness to explore the struggles of everyday life and the pursuit of collective liberation. From recurring bills and strained relationships to community organizing and confronting systemic inequality, she names the burdens that can leave us weary and uncertain. Yet struggle also connects us to those who came before us and persevered toward freedom. With honesty and hope, Desireé invites us to make room for rest, gather our courage, and face the storm together—trusting that the progress we seek may lie beyond the clouds.
Two Caged Birds
What happens when two caged birds encounter one another—each confined by different circumstances, yet each still reaching for freedom? In this reflection, I share the story of meeting Bull City, an unhoused neighbor whose dancing revealed a freedom that his circumstances could not contain. His movement became a mirror. A reminder that cages do not always look the same—and neither does freedom.
Bloody Boy
“As I watched that blood fall, I thought about how easy it would’ve been to stay inside. To tell myself it wasn’t my problem. To stay safe, stay out of it, keep my peace. But that’s the lie of ‘peace’ in this country—it’s really just distance. We mistake our isolation for safety. The truth is, there’s always risk in stepping out. But there’s a greater risk in staying in. Because when you stay in, you become part of the silence that lets systems keep wounding people.”
Overlooked, Forgotten and Untold Stories
“This country has an abnormal obsession with blood, especially the blood spilled of innocent lives who prematurely become pummeled bodies, so we commemorate tragedies but fail to disrupt the bloodletting systems. We also love dead heroes, well some of them, despite often hating them while they are living.
In this season, it will take many of us taking action where we are to ensure that no matter how many times we have to cross the bridge toward justice we will stay in the fight. Our names may not appear in history books, someone else may get all of the credit but building a pathway to liberation, fighting for justice is the real work of saints, sheroes and heroes.”
A Living Hermeneutic
“Heroes and saints aren’t just figures from the past; they walk among us today, embodying God’s love and justice in tangible ways. They interpret Scripture not just with words but with their actions, showing us what it means to follow Jesus in our everyday lives. As we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I’m reminded of how his life was a living sermon—a demonstration of love, justice, and courage. Through his marches, letters, and unwavering stand against injustice, Dr. King showed us what it means to live out the Gospel.
I’ve also found inspiration in Archbishop Oscar Romero, who preached hope and justice in the face of violence and oppression in Central America. Like Dr. King, he stood with the poor and spoke out against injustice, even at great personal risk. Heroes like…”
Solvitur Ambulando — “It is solved by walking”
"The journey makes you a pilgrim because the Camino is not only a track to be walked but a parable and a reality all at once. It transforms you, working within and outside of you, not just during the time it takes to walk each stage but throughout your entire life—if you allow it. Walking this holy way alongside eleven centuries of pilgrims, I’ve learned that pilgrimage is more than movement; it’s a practice of trust, endurance, and finding grace in every step."