come together

God's been leading me on a racial reconciliation journey over the past few years.  This past fall was an especially defining time for me as I studied and discussed the book Divided by Faith together with six black friends and six white friends.

As we began to near the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday this year, I began to pray and think about what intentional act I would like to be involved with this year that would help me continue to commit to this road toward a racially reconciled community.  One of my takeaways from Divided by Faith was the fact that we're so segregated that we really don't know one another, and if we do, it's often casually...we often don't have the relationships needed to get real or get deep about issues of race.  We often don't know what we don't know because of our deep separation from one another.

So, why not have a party?!  A time to actually come together as human beings, Christians, friends, so that we might better come to listen, understand, know, trust, and celebrate one another.   A time for fellowship....food (a potluck with food from our heritage or family traditions...can I say aMAZING?  German soft pretzels, Dutch apple cake, rice and beans with avocado, collard greens with smoked turkey legs, German meatballs, beef stroganoff, Kolaches, and so many other yummy dishes!) and a time to focus on the vision of reconciliation and justice that MLK Jr. lived and died to share and that Jesus lived and died to make possible.

We met in 3 small groups for awhile after dinner to share stories and to discuss 5 questions.  You'll find a few notes below from those questions.  We'd love it if you would care to add to any of them in a comment on this post!

1.        What have you been learning about racism or undoing racism in the past year?

-That it is more deeply embedded in our lives than we realized. 

-How ignorance plays a part.

-I have had blinders to its existence.

-Racism is “alive and well” in our society. 

-It’s not as obvious as it was in the past.  It’s more covert.

- There is black vs. black racism….light skin/dark skin, and more.

- My recent conflict is that though I find my identity in Christ now, how much is it okay to identify and be proud of my race and culture? 

-There are misunderstandings that happen…not out of ill-intent, but out of ignorance.

-When you become aware, you can hear and see racism more easily around you.

-Now aware of the systems and structures of racism, of the powers and principalities of racism, it requires greater responsibility to speak, to educate, to be an activist for justice and reconciliation. 

-Systems perpetuate racialization

-Building relationships is key

-Solutions are long term

2.       What do you most respect about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr./what influence or impact has he had on you?

-He was strong but humble. 

-He kept standing, even under persecution.

-His Christian witness was so strong.  His example in the face of persecution.  He continued to stand firm.  He lived his faith. 

-He was a reluctant leader.  The people pushed him to the front to lead them.  They wanted to follow him before he wanted to take on leading them. 

-He gave a face to Black America that White America had not seen before.  He was intelligent.  Clear and articulate.  Loving.  Prophetic.  Powerful. Wise.  He shattered notions that White America had about the Black community.

-He was brave.  He had the ability to galvanize people with words, move them to action.  He was powerful and clear.  He believed what he said.  He knew the cost.  He embodied truth.  In the truest sense, he followed the law.  He had the ability to teach non-violence.

-Power of his leadership

-The ability to verbalize his wisdom

-Bravery of his action from the heart

-Respect of his sense of calling- truely someone that was all in

-Appreciate his view that it is not about race but about people, unity and equality

-How steadfast and consistent his approach was

-His view that power is in people coming together

3.       What is your dream?

-I want my children to not perpetuate the racism and ignorance that I was taught and have to work through.  I want my children to have a natural way of thinking that differently.

-Educate people I socialize with

-That the Waterloo/Cedar Falls communities will respect each other.

-That black churches in Waterloo would embrace Christian Community Development.  We have to raise up indigenous leadership.  The Black community hasn’t seen itself in leadership but needs to and needs to get involved in this movement.

-SHOUT MO’.  Sharing Christ through concerts and events.  John and Brion writing music and sharing it in a way and in places where people can hear the Gospel in the music and testimony. 

-That our children will ask what was the big deal

-That our children can just live

-That there will be a higher level of awareness- everyone will be Christ centered

4.       What is one thing you’ll do toward the vision of racial reconciliation?

-Build relationships with those in my sphere and be there for the long-haul.

-Bring Christian influence and prayer

-Help the white staff of an organization. 

(only one group got to this question)

5.       If we would ever have a joint MLK Jr. service together, what would you include as a part of the service?

(only one group got to this question)

Heart felt content as a result of MLK's strong opinions

Not a worship of him

Diverse

Allow attendees to just observe if so inclined

Include elements of his vision- love of people, unity

Celebrate impact he had on all of us

"Men often hate each other because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don't know each other; they don't know each other because they cannot communicate; they can not communicate because they are separated."  Martin Luther King Jr.