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Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young

Chasing God's glory down unexpected trails

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Flourishing together: When racism affects us all

When my late husband Ericlee and I were newlyweds, we invited my Grandpa Frank to come live with us. Several years earlier my Grandma Cora had soared to heaven, and our family knew it wasn’t good for Grandpa to be living alone anymore — far from most of our family.

My generous husband offered up our guest room. He knew this was important to me. Of course, neither of us realized that providing a home for Grandpa would enlarge our hearts in ways we’d never dreamed.

While most of our twenty-something friends were going out on Friday nights, we spent evenings around the table with Grandpa sharing bowls of pinakbet stew or taking him to theater productions and movies.

My ninety-year-old grandpa was a bit of a character. Grandpa walked with a signature slow shuffle and a toothy smile a mile wide. The wrinkles on his face danced when he talked. He told outrageous stories and got into things he wasn’t supposed to. He also had a beautiful way of disarming strangers and making them into fast friends.

In that season, my husband and I cultivated heaps of patience and experienced much surprising joy. My grandpa taught us to slow down our pace, to savor every bite, and to count each day as a gift.

When I first read the reports several weeks ago that Asian American senior citizens were being attacked in our country, I felt my chest tighten. Xenophobia and anti-Asian racism has been on the rise in the U.S. since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020. A restaurant in my own city hung a sign on its door warning people to stay at a distance until the “Kung Flu” was over.

Many of my Asian American friends started speaking out against this injustice, but I felt paralyzed. The tears were caught in the back of my throat as I thought about my precious Filipino-Chinese-Polynesian grandparents and someone singling them out because of the color of their skin, the shape of their eyes, or their perceived country of origin.

I remember my own anxiety last spring about my Chinese-American husband going out for morning runs in the neighborhood or to the post office.

Would someone say something or do something to him?

My heart had to go there. More and more reports popped up on social media of friends who were enduring racial slurs and even physical harm because people were connecting COVID-19 with China and taking it out on Asian Americans of all different cultural backgrounds.

Genesis 1:27 reminds us that humans were created as image bearers of God: “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (NLT).

This does not make us into gods. This means we are valued as God’s special creation. As image bearers, we can reflect God’s glory to the world in ways no other part of creation can. God deeply values us, and we have the opportunity to value other human beings of all sizes, shapes, heights, weights, personality types, and skin tones.

My flourishing depends on the flourishing of my brothers and sisters, my neighbors, family, and friends.

-Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young

My flourishing depends on the flourishing of my brothers and sisters, my neighbors, family, and friends. If someone lashes out against a Black sister because of the color of her skin, we all suffer. If someone treats a Latina sister as “less than,” we all hurt. If someone overlooks an Indigenous sister, we all miss out. If someone attacks an Asian American elder, we all grieve because an image bearer of God has been struck down.

When racism is expressed in the world, we all need to be affected. Racism does not just affect individuals; it affects all communities. We are created as interdependent beings. We cannot flourish in isolation. We can only flourish together in community. 

According to the Bible, we are called to pay particular attention to the oppressed, the marginalized, and those who are suffering. Jesus modeled this again and again in His ministry. He went out of His way to talk to, stand up for, heal, and champion the women and men who were most vulnerable in society. We are called to do the same.

In Romans, Paul writes about the marks of a true Christian: “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:9-10, ESV).

Paul calls out the Romans and all of us reading God’s Word today to love each other as if we are family. Our love is to be genuine and honoring.

When my grandpa lived with us, we often went on evening walks together. He would grip my hand tightly to steady his body. For decades, the sweat of his brow and the work of his carpenter hands carried and provided for our family. Now my husband and I had the honor of caring and providing for him in his final season of life.

As we strolled the neighborhood, I had the opportunity to be his eyes — watching for cars, looking out for tree roots and cracks in the sidewalk that might trip him up or harm him. It was a privilege to walk with him in this way. On the route, he also gifted me wisdom, stories, and laughter.

Friends, let’s keep each other’s best interest in mind and value each other as part of our extended family.

Let’s stand up and speak up when we see others from God’s family being devalued or harmed.

Let’s walk together and treat each person like an image bearer of God to be treasured.

—

Some of my (in)courage sisters and storytellers joined me last summer for a two-part conversation about race and racism. These personal stories from women of color in our community help shed light and give deeper understanding of these issues.

Watch here:

Part One.

Part Two.

*The original version of this article was published at www.Incourage.me

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March 5, 2021 Categories: Culture, GeneralTagged: antiracism, body of Christ, building bridges, community, COVID-19, flourishing, racial diversity, shalom

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Meet Dorina

Aloha, friend! If you love stories, you are in the right place. I write about grief, glory, running, food, and more. I hope these words inspire you to chase after God’s glory in your life today!

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  • Good Friday: Running the ultimate ultramarathon April 2, 2021
  • Run Like a Girl: How Jesus used women to carry His message March 22, 2021
  • Flourishing together: When racism affects us all March 5, 2021
  • You were chosen for such a time as this, for 2021 February 16, 2021
  • Traveling the World From The Comfort of Home: Exploring Armenia January 14, 2021

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He’s my favorite! 💛💙  #dateyourspouse
#weddingdate
#beautyfromashes
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Hey friend, are you feeling alone? Are you needing some encouraging words today? I want to invite you to a community where you can receive regular ...

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Hey friend, are you feeling alone? Are you needing some encouraging words today? I want to invite you to a community where you can receive regular words of encouragement and inspiration from a diversity of Bible teachers. 
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I’ve had the privilege of sharing a message for the Online Women’s Bible Study community on the theme: “Ruth: What Happens When an Ordinary Woman Meets an Extraordinary God.” My message will be rolling out in early May. In the meantime, you get access to all the past amazing teachings and can even join our small group feature.
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TODAY aka Friday, April 16, is the LAST day to sign up for the Spring Semester study of More Than Ordinary. Don’t delay. Join today and you get access to all the teachings and a community of women who will be listening and studying alongside you!
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I have loved learning from @beckykiser @kianstephens @barbroose @jillbriscoe @karakae.james @katarmstrong1 @jamieivey and others! 🌸
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👆🏽Check out the link in my profile for details!
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Prayer & Devos with Dorina. .
This morning we are soaking in the words of David in Psalm 36. David is preaching to himself and preaching to all of us today. He is burdened by the wickedness in his world.
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After the week we’ve experienced, I can relate to the emotion here. Maybe you can too.
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What does David turn to for relief from the wickedness that surrounds him? He meditates on God’s character.
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He reminds us of God’s faithful love, His righteousness, that He is the judge, that He is our refuge. Friends, let’s cling to this and “take refuge in the shadow of God’s wings today.”
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#prayer #devotional #grief #lament #psalms #biblestudy #communityprayer
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I have learned the challenge ...

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Do you feel like you are running uphill through the dark? Are you feeling the sear of the fire at your heels?
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I have learned the challenge is in how we respond.
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Will we let the fires of life destroy us or refine us? Will we let grief overtake us or will we choose comfort in Christ? Will we look away or walk with our brothers and sisters in their suffering? Will we sit in the ashes or will we wear a crown of beauty? 
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Friends, let’s draw strength from Jesus’ words tonight:
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“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 
God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. 
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.
God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” 
- ‭Matthew‬ ‭5:3-10‬
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👉🏽Which of these verses brings you comfort? Share in the comments.
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📖 Read more in my new book, Walk Run Soar, available all the places books are sold. 📖
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I woke up this morning feeling achy. I drove the girls to school and decided to take some time for soul care. I did a yoga class online. I drank my water. But my heart still felt heavy, my body weary.
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Maybe it’s because I woke this morning to more heavy news about a young Black daddy who was shot instead of tased yesterday by a police officer.
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Or maybe it’s because my body remembers grief before my brain does. Grief and trauma makes it’s imprint on our memories, our souls.
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April 13, 2003 was the day I floated down the aisle in a flowing white gown and veil to the regal music of bagpipes. I took my groom’s hands and exchanged forever vows.
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When you’re young in your twenties, you can’t fathom that forever might be cut short, that you might go to Heaven before your mama or your babies are grown.
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Eleven years later, my beloved soared to Heaven. My body always remembers this grief on birthdays and anniversaries, and sometimes holidays.
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💕Friend, if you’re grieving today you have permission to move slowly. If you’re triggered, it’s good to pause. It’s ok to make space to cry, to lament, to write, to sing, to sit quietly, to paint, to cook, and to hug your people tightly. It’s ok.
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I keep remembering what God did when one of his image bearers died...
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Jesus wept. - John 11:35
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