Let us begin to heal.

Read Proverbs 3:1-7, noting especially verse 5a: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

We are in community with each other. Many of us are hurting. Can we come together and promote healing? Maybe you don’t see it. Maybe you don’t feel it. But when you listen deeply, the dissonance is unmistakable. There is hurt and pain permeating the fabric of our families, our neighborhoods, our schools, our workplaces, and our communities.

A group has formed to move us forward on this journey. Grace & Groundings, an Ohio Conference resource team, will learn, act, reflect, and model topics around racial reconciliation. Help us develop a framework that will assist the enhancement of your walk with Jesus Christ.

— Together we will learn and become aware of the source of the hurt.

— Then, as a community, we will discuss actions that everyone can do.

— Finally, we will be able to reflect and look at ourselves, make some adjustments and see if the pain has eased.

Jesus gave all of himself to give us this opportunity to ground our faithfulness in God’s grace. We beseech you to join us on this journey into a healing space — a place where we can be the community, that shining light on a hill, that will attract others into a practice of love and loving.

Will you come?

—From the Grace & Groundings Group

Editor’s note: Grace & Groundings will be a regular column in Ohio Mennonite Evangel. There will be upcoming opportunities to join this group in learning, acting, and reflecting.

This resource team has six members:

• Greg Battle, Lee Heights Community Church
• Greg Bowman, Midway Mennonite Church
• Kevin Himes, Salem Mennonite Church, Kidron
• Vikki Pruitte-Sorrells, Lee Heights Community Church
• Doug Zehr, Oak Grove Mennonite Church, Smithville
• Alysa Short, coordinator of volunteers, Central Mennonite Church