Reconciliation is a Responsibility

A wound, undealt with, in the proper conditions, will become infected and fester.  If tended to, but not delicately enough, the wound will not heal.  The problem will not be solved.

We see this in our inner lives, do we not?  We gloss over pain we have experienced, ignore the hurt, and move on.  But we do not tend the wound.

And so it festers.

Is it not clear, over the last several years, that the pains and wounds of racism and justice in our American society have not been properly tended to?  The anger and frustration and pain of those in Baltimore after Freddie Gray's death last year was hear around the world.  This horrible event threw a spotlight on deep injustices and decades of pain.

Yet, a significant number of white people I know dismissed these events as none of their concern.

I am not satisfied with that.  And the events of the last few weeks deepen that restlessness within me.  Any argument crying "isolated events" is washed away by the torrent of outcry against so many injustices over so many years.

Americans:  If we consider ourselves citizens of a nation based on the idea that all men are created equal, it is necessary to work at removing the barriers that keep the declared truth from being an active reality for our fellow citizens.

Christians: If we consider ourselves citizens of a Kingdom of a God who demands justice for the oppressed, who loves people of every tribe, tongue, and nation, and calls us to follow His lead, it's time to start removing the barriers that keep our fellow men from receiving that justice and love.

We are responsible.

There is very little I know.  I question if I have any authority at all to speak into this national racial divide as a white suburban male.  So I will do my best to listen, and point to the authority of my earthly citizenship and the higher authority of my eternal citizenship.

It is time to listen to one another.  To lay aside defenses and hear the stories of those who have been victims of structural and individual injustices.  To seek reconciliation.

This world is a mess, and we all have some responsibility to set it to rights.  Whether reaching out to your neighbor, leading a vastly influential non-profit, or something in between: own your part.

You are responsible.  Today, you can begin to end an injustice, in the hope that all injustice will end.

North Baltimore, from above.  February 2014.  A city with much healing still to be done.

Freedom

We celebrate American independence today.  56 men signed their names declaring separation from a King who had used his power for oppression, rather than service, of the people of the American colonies.

Baltimore Star Spangled Banner celebration, September 2014

At the time, it was something of a novel idea.  A social contract, in which a government is set up to protect and defend its people in exchange for reasonable submission to its authority.  Still today, the implementation of such a contract is novel and perhaps somewhat rare, for there are still autocrats and dictators and warlords using their power to ravage their lands and destroy their peoples.

I am grateful to live in a country where we can participate in our governance through civic action, voting, and much more.  I am grateful for the ways this American experiment has brought much good into the world.  I am grateful for this citizenship I have in this nation.

I am a dual citizen, it must be said, with a higher allegiance to a Kingdom of God.  And as we celebrate with fireworks and barbecues, I cannot forget that the work of freedom is not done.  There is yet slavery, there is yet injustice, there is yet suffering.  There is yet freedom to be won for countless millions of souls.  I repent of my tendency to rest in my comfort instead of moving outwards and using what resources I have to seek rescue for others.

I believe in a God who, for freedom, has set us free.  I believe in a God who "binds up the brokenhearted, [proclaims] liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound."  It is an ongoing, messy work that I cannot fully comprehend.  But He is doing this and invites us, complicated mess that we are, to join Him.

Celebrate the light that shines!

Then let it shine all the more in the darkness which so desperately needs it.

White Christmas!

Phil Davis and Bob Wallace, back from WWII’s Western Front, spend their days touring the country, song and dance routine in full swing.  After Phil arranges a meeting with the Haynes Sisters, romantic mischief soon lands this quartet in Vermont, where Judy and Betty Haynes are on deck to perform at a local Inn.  To Bob and Phil’s surprise, the owner of said Inn is none other than their own General Wavorly.  With Christmas fast approaching, they find themselves in a position to give him an incredible gift.

Take a break from the summer humidity and join Howard County Summer Theatre for a breathtaking ride through a wintry wonderland!  The entire cast, crew, and production team are volunteers and all profits from this show will benefit Prepare for Success, the USO, and the Salvation Army.

Show dates are June 30th (this Thursday!), July 1-3, and July 6-9.  All shows 7 PM except Sunday the 3rd at 2 PM.  Tickets available at ticketleap.com

Judy, Phil, Bob, and Betty bring you a Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas!

Will You Just Listen?

Almost a year ago, I upgraded from my 8-year-old flip phone to a smartphone.  What one thing has gotten more difficult due to this device?

Listening well.

It's late and I can't find a relevant photograph, so here is an indifferent cat.

In conversation, I’ve noticed that a comment will spark a thought and I’ll be on my phone to check something.  Instantly, I am no longer listening, but off in another world.  Indeed, I am one of those people who can handle only one input at a time.  Growing up, I had to remind family members that if I was on the computer and not looking at them, I wasn’t hearing anything they were saying.  After which frustration often ensued!  Either I am listening to someone or some device has my attention instead.

Aware of these shortcomings, I often make an extra effort to listen well.  Here are a few techniques I’ve learned over the years that have been very helpful:

Restate what you’ve heard.  Listen to the words you hear and then respond with a paraphrased version of their story.  This gives them a chance to affirm that you understand what they are saying, ensuring that they feel heard and valued.  Seeking to restate the story they tell, in your own words, also helps cement it in your mind and deepen the connection between you.

Ask clarifying questions.  After to many mistakes over the years, I’ve begun to get better at setting aside the assumption that my understanding of certain phrases is the same as someone else’s.  For instance, the first time I had a conversation with a Muslim friend about prayer, I assumed we had the same exact understanding of that word.  I discovered some time later that my definition of prayer was quite different from his.  Throughout that first conversation, we never truly communicated because each one of us thought the other understood his unspoken definitions.  Had I asked deeper questions about his concept of prayer, our discussion may have been a lot more meaningful for us both.  We could have come away with a much better understanding of each others perspective and experience.

Deal with your mess.  Some years ago, I was stuck in anxious overdrive, dealing with several complex issues in life that I was having trouble solving.  These problems were constantly on my mind and required an enormous effort of will to lay aside so I could truly listen to and focus on someone else.  If you’re in this place, acknowledge it.  Get honest about whatever you are facing, and then face it.  I spent too much time worrying about problems instead of enlisting help and solving them and it robbed me of the chance to interact with others, to truly hear them, for quite some time.  Do not allow life’s difficulties to have such a hold on your mind that you are incapable of giving people the gift of a listening ear.  It is possible to drop those chains, be free, and be available to care for others.

Offering a listening ear is to give someone a great gift.  With a bit of work, you can increase your ability to offer such a gift tenfold!