As I cleaned out and packed up one church
office for another there were last minute details that would finalize this
transition. Files were put in order,
trash emptied, personal remains removed and last but not least I deleted files
and cleared the history on the church computer.
I looked at the words "Clear
browsing data” and I thought "There are plenty of us who might want
to clear some of our own history this easily." One click of a button and the past actions
are gone, well we all know some people can override the system, but for all
intents and purposes--gone.
Recently Ben Affleck has been in the news for his request
that the PBS series "Finding Your Roots" omit the discovery that one
of his ancestors was a slave owner.
Affleck later stated that he was embarrassed by this but apologized for
trying to hide the information---in other words, I might say he tried to
"clear the browsing data."
What difference would it have made to anyone if this information
had been shared? I like to think it
might have made a statement that we can move on from the bigotry and racism of
our ancestors.
A few years ago I was having a conversation with 2 middle
school students. One was asking the
other if they remembered what a bully they used to be. The other said yes and apologized. Both students were known for bullying. At one point they looked at me and asked “Have
you ever been bullied?”
My response “I have been bullied and while I don’t have a
particular situation in mind I am sure I was a bully.” It would have been easier to leave out the
second half of my response but their reaction was worth the honesty. They could not believe this and thus began
the conversation of how our actions without any conscious intent can feel like
bullying to others as well as our acts of righteousness. I fell to peer pressure; I whispered with my
friends (whispering can feel like bullying even if it is only about the
weather) and I did not draw my circle as wide as I do today. It was not a comfortable conversation and it
made me sad and ashamed when I looked back with knowing eyes.
"You
cannot erase the past. You must let it go. You cannot change yesterday. You
must accept the lessons learned." Author Unknown
All throughout the Bible God asks the people not to
forget where they have come from and Jesus asks that we remember him always,
that we remember his actions always.
Don't forget the oppression and always remember the comfort and healing
available to all people in all times.
Our response is a part of our relationship with God.
We celebrate the independence of the nation today, an
independence born from determination and dreams of change. A birth made messy by the violence and oppression
of indigenous people. It is by fully
recognizing our past that we can fully celebrate who we are on our way to
becoming.
In spite of the
conflicts in our nation today, the violence and the fear---the world is still
full of dreamers—that is worth celebrating—it is a part of our DNA.
As I shut my office door one last time I was aware of the
pastors before me who have done the same, each one of us a part of a church's
whole story. Each appointment full of
hopes and dreams along with a few mistakes.
In spite of the
conflicts, the hurtful accusations and the fear--the church is still full of
dreamers---that is worth celebrating—it is a part of our DNA
We've a story to tell to the nations,
A story of truth and mercy,
A story of peace and light,
......We've a message to give to the nations,
...God is love---
(Adapted from the hymn)
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