written by Shawn Raleigh
Imagine looking out over the land and in your observation you discover the soil is rich. Rich in morals, values, standards, integrity, respect and most of all love. So you decide to plant a "SEED". Excited about the potential you can foresee, you begin to cultivate it, nurture it, water it and most of all you speak life into it. Patience is required to start seeing results, and in due time that "SEED" begins to peek out above the ground. Assuring you that your effort has not been in vain. Your "Seed" continues to thrive above ground and reaches a stage of uprightness. Although still young and fragile it withstands harsh and unfavorable weather conditions, but it just can't be denied reaching its full potential. God has ordained it to live and not die! As it reaches maturity the doors of independence opens up. Although it has taken on a metamorphosis, all that you have instilled in it from the very start still remains ingrained in it. Taking on a new form it's time to venture out into the world. Guarded and shielded with all the attributes from its roots, the time has come to walk in the God given right to live. Not just to live but to live freely.
Now imagine that "Seed" is not a flower, a vegetable, a fruit or a nut. But as a human being named Ahmad Arbery. A young man who diligently and consistently expressed his freedom through running. A hobby that he was passionate about. Something that brought him a breath of fresh air. It was his freedom of expression.
A right that is protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution. Not only does he have the right to freedom of expression, most importingly he has the right to life and liberty . According to the 14th Amendment no citizen should be deprived of life and liberty , or property, without due process of law; nor should any citizen under the jurisdiction of the United States be denied equal protection of the law.
Let's journey back into "A Father's Garden" where he has toiled the land and placed his "Seed." Where he has cultivated, nurtured, watered, and spoke life into his "Seed." Where he has watched it thrive and blossom into something he can be proud of. Only to one day learn that briars and thorns have infiltrated the garden. Launching a full attack, overtaking the"Seed" he was so proud of. This has to be devastating!
Now imagine Ahmad Arbery understanding what it truly means to breathe. For running was his expression of freedom. A runner practices to master the art of breathing to be able to maintain a pace that they can carry on for periods of time. Ì stress that he understood the importance of life. He loved his life and in return was able to have love for the life of others. However on a trek, he was encountered by bandits who had personal reasons why they felt he shouldn't be in a particular area. So they began to make false accusations against him. Completely manipulating the narrative of his true intentions to just run. This resulted in a physical altercation where Ahmad had to defend himself against two adult men. Ahmad was eventually overtaken by the assailants when they decided to take matters further by shooting him. Leaving the young man laying in the street bleeding out for a significant amount of time. With no efforts to assist him, Ahmad eventually succumbed to his injuries.
Where do we go from here? We return back to "A Father's Garden." Where it all began. Where despite the briars and thorns, he still remains. Despite the untimely demise of the "Seed" he planted, he still remains. Despite the pain, he still remains. Understanding that it is all a bigger cause, he remains in his garden. And as he looks out over the garden, he speaks his peace. But in "A Father's Garden" God delivers the last word. May the life and legacy of Ahmad Arbery become a tree of life love and hope to bring about change to the world.
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