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Religion
The Faith of Our Fathers: Reflections on the Black Church
Black History month often reminds me of the brutal past we have endured as a people. The common thread we all share is that of a people forcibly removed from a continent and their respective nations. They were brought here across the Atlantic to serve as human chattel. One of the biggest criticisms of the Slave Trade was the forcible conversion of people and the names they were given to reflect those of their Christian masters. The knowledge of this heinous chapter in our nation's history, coupled with the codified racism that followed, have led some to vehemently oppose the Christian faith and label it a "White man's religion." That stated – I beg to differ with the description "White man's religion."
The Slave Trade had many conspirators of diverse religious backgrounds, from the indigenous, ancestral worship of warring tribes that captured their enemies and sold them to the merchants or kept them for themselves, to the Arab Muslims who historically enslaved non believers and rivals alike. Religion has always been used to justify atrocity and one man's oppression of another. We must always keep in mind that many good Christian White people fought and gave their lives as abolitionists to destroy the institution.
I believe some of our fathers found a new faith in the journey across the Atlantic. It was not something their fathers would recognize or something they were force fed by plantation owners. They created a culture grounded in a hope for the future and a freedom they would never experience in this life. They were not earthly minded. They looked past the hypocrisy of their captors and believed in the God of the Bible based upon their own internal witness. In spite of all tangible evidence, the Black church believed that God was with them and that he in fact died for them. The preachers insisted that those who called upon their God would be saved, but not by human hands, and not necessarily in this life.
Seeds From The Sower
"When that bad boy threw stones at you," said the mother, "why didn't you call me instead of throwing stones back at him?"
"Why?" asked the boy. "You couldn't hit the side of a barn."
Too many throw stones instead of turning the other cheek. They lash back, they don't love back. You can't get ahead of anyone if you're trying to get even with him. The only people you should try to get even with are those who have helped you.
Has someone hurt you? Slight it, forget it and do good in return.
Our Lord said, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."
My Leap Year Quandary: Anybody Have a Day to Spare?
During the last political election cycle, we were promised change but I have not seen any of it, especially in my pants pocket.
Then something wonderful happened. I was taking some mail to the post office and as I got out of my truck, I noticed a penny on the ground. At my age, if I have to bend down I make sure there are at least two or three things to do while I am down there. A single penny just will not do it for me. After all, what can you do with a penny?
As I looked at that penny, I saw another penny, then another, then several. By the time I was done, there was a pile of 20 pennies there. Now that is something to bend down for.
I know what they say, "a penny for your thoughts." Here was 20 pennies and I did not have to think too much about bending down and collecting all 20 and put into my pants pocket. Nothing is quite as melodious as change jingling in my pants pocket. I walked into the post office with my pocket jingling with some spare change.
Some may complain that 20 pennies does not really amount to very much. I remember what wise old Benjamin Franklin said, "A penny saved is a penny earned." I am not sure what he would say about a penny rescued or even 20 pennies rescued, but I think he would have had something very witty to say about it.
The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage would say to me something to the effect that 20 pennies cannot buy a good lunch. Who needs a good lunch when you got 20 pennies jingling in your pants pocket? The better part of wisdom on my part would be to allow these 20 spare pennies be my little secret.
