First off, thank you to everyone for your gracious and constructive feedback from last weekend. Racism is a tough topic for a community, and I appreciate how serious everyone took it. The comments and corrections were all given and received with respect and appreciation.
Most of the comments had to do with “balance”. That is, everyone appreciated and agreed in the big picture with what I preached on; and had some practical comments. One woman shared about being Korean and growing up in Japan where the racism is more pervasive and socially acceptable. It’s not just a “white” thing. One man talked about how things are where he grew up in Africa, and how reconciliation is so complex because it also involves so much more than race (he used gender as an example). Another woman questioned (rightly) my use of the word mutulation to describe people who have plastic surgery to look more caucasian. While agreeing that the thinking and the imagery which spawned the need for surgery is wrong she pushed back concerned that my comment was condemning of hurting people, and encouraged me to not hurt the hurting. There were several more things shared but I think this is pretty representative.
By the way, if you are someone who has had plastic surgery please know that I never intended to smere an entire field of medicine that performs and amazingly great amount of things. My comment was an attempt to reveal the insidious depth and toxic effects that this particular sin can wreak on the human soul. If you have had surgery or skin lighteners, please know that I don’t condemn you. I would love to talk with you, ask your forgiveness if it hurt you, and seek the Lord’s heart together for healing and restoration.
On the “thank you” side I received grateful comments and hugs from people who felt like their struggles and hurts finally got a fair airing. It was important to encourage the majority to be good hosts and to share the burden of reconciliation as a community so that it’s not the responsibility of a few who are already hurt and wounded by racism. So all-in-all I think it was a fair start. But it’s not all that needs to occur.
To “do” what the Lord is asking us to “be” will require that this issue never go away. It’s not a checklist item, but a perception and a sensitivity that we are just beginning to acquire (but don’t yet have). If we are to be a healthy, honoring place of “all people” then we have to continue walking and working. We have some “structural” things to deal with. We need more and deeper venues for exploring this vitally important topic. We need perseverence and consistency in our thinking and intention.
The elders are talking about this. Some great suggestions have been made about “next steps,” but I wanted to explicitly ask for your insight and opinion on “next steps.”
What ideas do you have to keep this issue fresh? To provide opportunities for people to really explore their souls, deal with their own fears and racism? To listen to racism’s effects on the people the Lord has brought here to be loved and to love – to be part of their healing and ours? Not just for “us”, but for those who will be “us” in the future? Any ideas for our kids?
I would love hear any and all ideas and opinions.
I would offer one final encouragement today. This is hard. It makes relationships and motivations for friendship feel awkward, maybe even forced. This always happens when we confront deep seated things that often go unchallenged (please don’t forget what was shared about passive racism-read the previous post if you have). We are doing this not to be popular or PC or merely provocative. We are doing this because we are following our Lord, and he requires it of us. He is making us, our community, more Kingdom-like. THIS IS AWESOME! It’s hard and difficult, but it is the type of hard work and difficult that can change the world. Don’t loose sight of this in the awkwardness. God is changing everything, and he is letting us be part of his transformation.
Hallelujah!
Amen.
