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Proverbs 14:23 (NKJV) In all labor there is profit, but idle chatter leads only to poverty.

Black lives matter. White lives matter. All lives matter. But I submit to you, that no lives will truly matter until we are able to embrace the concept that “LIFE” matters.

I’m thankful to God that the lives and the treatment of people of color is being discussed at new levels. However, idle chatter leads to poverty and if all we do is talk about change; change will never happen.

I do understand the concerns we have with the COVID-19 virus. But this should not stop us or detain us from coming together and invoking change.

We’re still having meetings to address other concerns, why not have meetings to address becoming active and proactive in our community? The talk of unity is not new. As a matter of fact, the talk of unity has been raised and lowered, raised and lowered, raised and lowered.

In some cases, the talk of unity had to be exhumed because there has been no labor after the language.

I believe as we dialog about the importance of life, we will discover the importance of “lives matter.”

Life is more than just inhaling and exhaling. Life is about growth, production, and being beneficially functional.

When we speak of lives, we’re talking about the plural form of life. Whether you pronounce it live or live it still speaks to “just existing.” Life is the condition, the very lively existence that distinguishes an individual human being from inorganic matter.

Yes, all lives matter, but what type of life are we being afforded to live? If we are not living a life that brings profit and proficiency to our lineage, what are we living for?

It’s going to take work; it’s going to take putting in the time at the table of change in order for equality as we know it to change. The scary thought is that there are some who don’t want the change to happen.

History teaches us, there were those who didn’t want African Americans to sit at the table but serve the table. We can serve you in your dining room but can’t sit with you in the boardroom.

Much credit and appreciation to those who are willing to sit down and dialog about the struggle for people of color to live a life of successful opportunity – To truly be a part of the “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Rev. Demetrius Moffett is Senior Pastor of Orange Church of God-Embassy of Grace, 1911 North 16th Street in Orange.