Ferguson

I tried to start this post as a prayer, something of noble faith to bring peace and calm and justice to what happened in Ferguson, Missouri.  I guess I don't pray that well.  Or maybe I simply need to process things, to discern the spirits, to see what prayers really need to be said.


Because there are two great truths that have been confused in Ferguson.  And if we can sort them out, maybe we can truly make some progress.


Here is the first truth.  It is very possible that Darren Wilson's shooting of Michael Brown was justified.  Nobody wants to hear that, and I know I am going to lose readers right now because I am entertaining that possibility.  From all the reports of all the evidence that I have read about what was given to the Grand Jury, it looks to support the officer's story.  I am not a judge, I am not on any jury, I am simply trying to follow the facts as they have been presented.


From my experience and preparation as a law enforcement Chaplain, I begin to understand and appreciate the unique pressures of that vocation.  As a society, we have entrusted to our police officers the power of life and death, but in very specific circumstances, the protection of life.  And every time an officer must exercise that power, we must scrutinize the circumstances with the greatest care, for the sake of the community and for the sake of the officer.


Here is the second truth.  Racism exists in America.  From where I sit today, the most cynical thing written in the documents that establish the foundation for this nation is the phrase in the Declaration of Independence that there is this self-evident truth that all men are created equal.  Set aside gender issues for a moment to truly consider how cynical that statement is in light of the United States Constitution.  In the Constitution, we set aside a whole group of people, defined them by the color of their skin and their economic circumstances, and we called them slaves.


Yes, I am judging the circumstances of the 1700's and the 1800's by 21st century standards.  But those guys all went to church and they all must have heard what Paul had to say about being in Christ, that there is neither male nor female, Jew or Gentile, SLAVE OR FREE!!! 


In the 21st century, we don't have slavery, we fought the Civil War over that, and other issues.  We don't have Jim Crow laws and segregation because of the Civil Rights movement.  But economic divisions, racial stereotypes, urban and suburban "ghettos", all of these still exist.  And there is a deep and abiding anger in the soul of America about this. 


And we should be protesting, because this should NOT be happening in this nation.  I think the words of Martin Luther King Jr. should be the battle cry.  Let every person be judged on the content of their character.  From Civil War to Civil Rights to Civil Potential!  Let every American, regardless of color, creed, gender, or ethnic origin be given equal opportunity to develop to their fullest potential.  Economics and education would be the foundations of the new protest.  


What makes me so very angry about Ferguson is the confusion of these truths.  I am very angry at all the comments about how everyone was certain Darren Wilson would not be indicted, not because he was innocent, but because the 'system' would conspire to get him off.  I am very angry at what happened after the shooting, when Michael Brown's body was out in the middle of the street, in plain sight, for hours.  It looked to me like the authorities didn't care. 


I am very angry that we live in a country with widening divides between the rich and the poor, between people of all different racial backgrounds, not just black and white, that our response to the tensions has been one of arrest and incarceration instead of engagement and meaningful social change. 


So, I guess my prayer would be this: God, change our hearts and our minds.  Amen.

Ebola: The Spirit Best Minister, Because I am Useless...

I went to a County training yesterday in putting on the Personal Protective Equipment that would be used by Health Department personnel in case of an Ebola outbreak in Middlesex County.  My God, what a humbling experience.


Everything that I equip myself with for the role and office of pastor is sealed up under plastic and packing tape.


Ebola is carried in human liquids, thus to prevent its transmission, one must be self-contained against spills, sprays, splashes, and spittings, especially to the eyes, nose, and mouth, or to an open wound.  So, there are surgical gloves underneath and kitchen-scrubbing gloves over top, duct-taped to the Tyvek outfit.  There are my glasses, a breathing mask, a hood, and a face shield on top of that.  Even my shoes were covered.  And eleven to fourteen steps just to put them on correctly.  And this is just to go in and see someone.


When you emerge, expect to be hosed down with a bleach mixture against any liquids that found there way onto your person.  And pray the plastic and packing tape didn't rip!


You got nothing but the Spirit in that moment.  There is no way to carry in a bible or prayer book.   Crosses and jewelry are forbidden because they might tear the suit.  There is barely even the ministry of presence available.


There is NO skin to skin contact, there is layered eye contact, there is no facial expression or physical expression of love or hope to offer under that armor.  Even my voice is muffled under the hot and smelly mask.  I had nothing.  


All the patient has is the sure and certain knowledge that even God's henchman comes in outfitted like every other anonymous Health Worker.  What we have done, with our marvelous modern technology, is kept the patient confined to a box in quarantine.  Is this more humane, a better way to preserve their dignity and the 'public good'  than allowing them to walk abroad while crying out "UNCLEAN" to every normal person they meet?


I am not enough of a fool for Christ to think God would keep me from getting infected (and that would defy the whole 'thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God section), that I could defy the plastic and packing tape and go in human to human.  Because, besides that patient, I have my family, my co-workers, my parishioners, the public to think about and consider. 


So I have to assume that if I am ever called upon to suit up and stand like a human-esque form in plastic and packing tape, that the Spirit will still bring the power of the faith, even when I am not sure I do.