Represent!

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." – Luke 23: 39-43

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 21-22; Luke 23: 26-56


This story has always fascinated me.


There is Jesus, a hot, bloody mess, hanging on the cross. And there are two other folk being crucified there with him. One of them hurls insults as him.


Not a good look.


And the other one shuts that noise all the way down with some truth. He acknowledged Jesus’ innocence and defended him against the other man. Then he asked Jesus to remember him on the other side. Jesus obliges.


Of course I’m not sure what happened to the first guy. I don’t want to judge… but I hope, for his sake, that there was more to this conversation off the record.


As for the second dude… well done sir! You have earned your one way ticket to “paradise”. Congratulations.


But wait! That’s not fair! Dude was a scoundrel. Just like Mr. Dahmer, there should be no hope for him while there are plenty of other good people around.


Well I don’t know about all that…


But what I love here is the message that we gotta represent. I mean represent in the hip hop slang kinda way. We have to speak out for what we believe in. We have to align our thoughts and feelings with our words and actions.


This is what greatness is when you think about it right? When we think of all of the great people who helped facilitate some kind of positive social change they were all people who weren’t afraid to stand on the front lines and represent for their cause.


We don’t all have to take a bullet, but if none of us stand up for what is right, then all we get is a whole lot of wrong.


I don’t care what your spiritual background is, or what issue you champion. If you say that you believe in something or want to see some kind of change in the world then stand tall and represent.


Good things will happen.