You may have heard of Robert Royal. For those who have not, allow us to introduce him. Robert Royal is a Catholic author and the current editor-in-chief of The Catholic Thing, an online publication of essays and thought on religion in the modern world. He’s conservative and thought provoking. Like Royal says, “we make arguments; we don’t hold up the bible.”

The commentary written by Royal on June 15 is a reflection of the ongoing unrest which began in Minneapolis in response to the killing of George Floyd. By June 13, over 2,000 cities and towns across the United States and around the world saw protests, demonstrations, and widespread looting.

The article is titled Today is Not That Day. We will give our loyal readers of this blog the courtesy of a simple link to the entire article, but are compelled to share more openly a small sample:

On some calmer day, I may write another column in which I’ll try to define terms like systemic racism, privilege, violence, crime, justice, so that maybe we can start to understand what we’re arguing over. Such words fly past us all, as if they were merely rocks you pick up to throw in a street fight, not things needing to be carefully considered.

But today is not that day.

Readers may recognize the phrase, Aragorn urging the troops into battle in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003):

Sons of Gondor! Of Rohan! My brothers! I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me! A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship. But it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the age of Men comes crashing down! But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand! Men of the West!

Every day on Earth is a day of battle for women and men of true spirit against various evils – for Christians, that includes the evils lurking in our own hearts.

But not every day on Earth is a day for outward engagement, even to remedy historic injustices or to defend law and order. There are days of inner battle and silence as well, that may even be more important and more challenging than an outward clash.

Now, more than ever in recent times, is a moment for reflection. Public clashes are raucous – and on some days refreshing and invigorating for that very reason. Today is not that day.

From the Stewardship Foundation, we wish all our friends God’s peace and heartfelt prayer in these difficult times.