Faith Matters | In times like these, let’s try to live our lives with a little more grace
A pastor, police officer a priest walk into a bar…
Well now that we’re in Florida’s Stage II, this isn’t just a joke, but finally a real possibility! But what if we all walked into a place where we truly experienced grace? Let me define grace as pure, unadulterated, unmerited favor. Not light and watered-down, but hoppy, flavorful, delicious, grace on tap in a frosty mug? A good craft beer can draw such folks together, but only grace can change them when they leave. A church, family, neighborhood, team, relationship with grace on tap.
What if that grace tapped into us, and our selfishness and self-righteousness “tapped out,” and grace ran free like a child released from Corona Virus restrictions?
Grace with whom we disagree
This one feels tough, but let us consider actually living out what Christians claim to believe. If God has declared you righteous, you don’t have to be right. And if your righteousness matters more than being right, you will find yourself more open to the possibility of being wrong. Or simply open to the possibility of having blind-spots. But when grace becomes fully operational, even sons can teach their fathers. Just this week I received an email from an older member sharing how his sons, along with personal reflection, had revealed some of his blind spots regarding social injustices.
When we no longer aim for correctness — of any variety— but simply a gradual growing in grace, defensiveness gives way to an assumption of misunderstanding. Instead of a, “Yeah, but all lives matter (by the way, of course they do!), we ask, “So what do you mean by that, because I seem to be missing something?” Is it possible that some lives have historically been devalued more than others?
Grace to those whom we don’t understand
I’ve never felt the need to protest. Not once. I actually tried to run away from a police officer in my very slow and un-aerodynamic Volvo 240 DL. Bad idea on a number of levels. The officer casually walked up, told me to stay in the car and asked, “Are you wanted for anything?” I stayed in the car while he wrote me a ticket. End of story. He was black. What if the ethnic situation was reversed? After hearing multiple stories from people of color who had been pulled over without infractions, I can imagine it would have ended quite differently.
So if you don’t understand why many folks have protested (I’m not talking about looting), please take some effort to try and understand. Read up, or at the very least ask some folks who don’t already share your point of view. And by the way, you’ll find a variety of experiences, as well as possible solutions and next steps. No group is monolithic.
Grace to the cops
Through social media, I came across a Venn Diagram comprising outrage at George Floyd’s death, condemnation at rioting and looting, as well as support for good police officers. All three can coexist. This is not a time to pick a side and dig our heels in.
As a contributing author to an upcoming racial reconciliation sequel to Heal Us Emmanuel, I do have a strong opinion on the need to continue listening. But until recently, after noticed some defensive posturing on Facebook, I realized I hadn’t listened as well to, or empathized much with the plight of the individual police officer. What might he or she think as people stand in solidarity with people of color, standing against the system that also happens to includes him or her?
What about the amazing police officers and the work they’ve done? I hadn’t fully thought through their perspective. I hadn’t done what I had asked people to do! I cannot imagine the dangerous waters cops navigate on a daily basis, much less in this season of protest. Not only that, but I’ve never heard anyone say, “Defund the pastors!”
While writing this piece, I texted my neighbor a message of appreciation. She reminded me that many cops do recognize the need for change, but it is challenging to be lumped in with the bad cops. Good cops have expressed amazing solidarity, while others have paid the ultimate sacrifice in this season. Let us support and mourn for them too! Instead of firing off a meme on Facebook, reach out to the ones you know and share your appreciation for their life and work.
We’re all a bit sensitive in this season. I know I am. But grace can deal with that. May the tap of grace flow continually, that we may stumble through this together. Let us take the time to listen first, understand next, reflect and pray third, discuss forth, and THEN, if need be, agree to disagree.
Faith Matters is written by members of the Bradenton clerical community. Geoff Henderson is pastor at Harbor Community Church in Bradenton, https://harborcommunitychurch.org/