Goodness. Where do I begin?

Is COVID-19 even a threat now that we have mass marches and riots all over America? I'm no conspiracy theorist, but when the puzzle pieces start taking shape, a bigger and more corrupt picture is shown. I'm not a fan of any of it.

As people don their masks, head to their favorite restaurants, listen to live music and set up their camping sites, it's easy to get excited for a bit of freedom. Getting out there again sure has its mental and emotional perks, let alone the physical and healthy perks of being around others.

It's a narrow and rickety teeter totter we are trying to balance on. We ask ourselves, "Is it too soon?" "Should I really be doing this?" Staying safe while taking precautions seems best while still venturing out and getting back to normal. Making sure we practice social distancing with loved ones who have compromised immune systems or underlying health conditions helps keep them safe. We figure this isn't over and there is more to come, but right now we have embraced a bit of normality and are enjoying the great outdoors.

The devastation in Minneapolis and around the country cannot go unnoticed. To say that it's gross would be an understatement. What happened to George Floyd was the definition of evil rearing its ugly head. The fact that people of different races have to fear anything in modern day America is mind boggling, angering, unjust, saddening and wrong.

God preaches for us to love our neighbors as ourselves. He says that whoever pursues virtue and kindness will find life, righteousness and honor. Proverbs tell us that a man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself. Romans states to love one another with brotherly affection and to outdo one another in showing honor.

Why so much hate and so much evil? Evil projected to show the injustice of the prior evil is not right either. There is so much that could be said about these events and this topic, but I think the moral of the story is that what happened to George Floyd should not happen to anyone in America, or any place on earth for that matter. The aftermath has not just been devastating, but wrong as well. Burning down another's business or throwing a brick in another's face does not solve the problem. It highlights another one. What has happened to the human race?

I look at my children and pray that I am raising them correctly and that they know this is not how the world is supposed to be. I pray they know to give love and show love. I pray they know that every person is worth love and compassion. We have a long way to go to prove we know anything about equality and the struggles each human inevitably faces, but we have the ability, compassion and faith to treat others the way we would like to be treated.

May God wrap His loving arms around all peoples, all places and all souls as we navigate these turbulent waters. May He give us the strength to listen and to love with compassion, empathy and kindness. Stay safe, my friends.

Sentinel-News contributor Iesha Toft lives in Royal.