2020 - An Uncomfortable Opportunity
Author: Rachel Davis
September 29, 2020
2020 has been an uncomfortable year
to say the least. In mid-March, the rhythm of our lives was abruptly disrupted
beyond anything most of us could have imagined due to COVID-19. Not only was
our congregation not able to congregate, we also said goodbye to our beloved
Pastor Bill. Many of us were forced to work from home, some with school-aged
children by our sides because schools closed. Retail shops and restaurants were
shuttered. Our calendars were cleared of social engagements. All of this change was difficult and
uncomfortable as change often is. And then in late May when the deaths of
George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmad Arbery resulted in protests around the
country calling for racial justice, things got even more uncomfortable.
We were forced to acknowledge the
deep racial and economic disparities in our country. Statistics show that
COVID-19 has killed Non-White people at disproportionately higher rates; Black
and Brown people are twice as likely as Whites to die at the hands of police
officers in this country; and Black, Brown, and Indigenous people are more
likely to live in poverty than White Americans. Yet so many White people cannot
accept these numbers as a true reflection of American society, because it’s not
our experience.
The
Danger of Assumptions
Often we make assumptions about why
these inequities exist. We assume people are in poverty because they aren’t
working hard enough or that people are getting sick because they are making
unhealthy choices. In his book The Four Agreements,
Don Miguel Ruiz teaches that when
we stop making assumptions, we can focus our attention on the truth, not on
what we think is the truth. It is time for us as Christians to seek the
uncomfortable truth. The first step to finding this truth is to
acknowledge that institutional racism is real. The next important step we will
have to take is to explore the role we, as individuals and as a church, play in
maintaining these racist systems.
Hope
in Unlearning
Doug’s message on Sunday taught me a
new term: kenosis, to empty out. It
brought to mind a quote I read recently, “Progress requires unlearning.” I feel
we are being called to unlearn, or
empty out, what we think we know about race and racism in America in order to
replace it with the truth. The good news of all of this unlearning is that,
like the empty tomb was the fulfillment of God’s promise of resurrection, the
unlearning will leave room for the promise of a new and better post-COVID
“normal.”. It will provide opportunities for us to put Christ’s teaching into
action.
I imagine that what emerges from this
uncomfortable unlearning is a safe and just community where the last are made
first. Where every individual life is valued as precious, and systems are put
into place to uplift the most vulnerable. A place where we care for neighbors
outside of our zip code as much as we care for the ones next door. It’s a place
where we see and honor the image of God in every face no matter the complexion.
It is within our power to create this new normal.
The
Choice is Yours
It all comes down to the choices we
make. What will you choose? Will you choose to get uncomfortable in order to
unlearn and discover the truth? Will you choose uncomfortable actions that
break down racist systems in order to empower “the least of these”?
You are invited to take a first step
and join our church in a discussion around race:
In recognition of Indigenous People’s Day (Columbus
Day), you are invited to a congregational discussion on race as a launch to our
Matthew 25 Church commitment. Hosted by the Justice and Advocacy Committee,
this is a racism 101 discussion. We will discuss racism vocabulary, have time
for breakout discussions, and learn more about the Matthew 25 commitment. It
will be the first of ongoing weekly discussions, which will be held on Sunday
mornings from 9-10. We invite you to come with open hearts and minds,
recognizing that we aren’t used to speaking about race…while equally
recognizing the vital importance of learning how to do so. Monday, October
12, 7-8:30 p.m. – come step into brave space with us! Please RSVP to the
church or to rebeccabryan@me.com to
receive the Zoom link.
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