Whether you are reading or watching The Secret Life of Bees you are in for a spiritual experience. Maybe I’m biased toward anything southern, but I read the book and had to see the movie as soon as it came out – if you haven’t already, I would definitely recommend that you do the same. The story movingly depicts the deep issues of equality and civil rights, set within the racial tensions of 1964 in the rural South.
Picture na’ve, white, 14-year-old Lily, and her older and wiser, black friend Rosaleen walking along a dirt road in the summer heat of South Carolina, just days after Lyndon Johnson signed a critical piece of legislation. They approach a town and discuss getting lunch. Lily doesn’t see any problem with what she views as the obvious option – to walk right in and sit down at the first place they see. Rosaleen gently reminds her that they won’t let a black woman in these restaurants and Lily hopefully responds, But what about the Civil Rights Act?”
Rosaleen’s tired reply is “Honey that’s just a piece of paper.”With a simple scenario and only a few words readers and viewers are poignantly reminded of the United States’ long journey from the volatile race relations of the past to the revolutionary events of the 2008 election. But despite these recent astounding steps toward equality that reaches from the blue-collar worker to the highest office our nation has to offer integration does not automatically signify reconciliation – nor does electing Barack Obama into presidential office mean that the past is erased.
I realize that in a short column there is not enough room to explore the profundity of this issue. But what I am most concerned with is that the church as a whole has failed to recognize and fill its critical role in reconciling its people in the realm of civil equality. Answering this call isn’t as imperative for any group or demographic as it is for those who claim to be Christians. Regarding those who would say that I am off base in my claims I would ask you to consider if you are really engaging reality and honesty in formulating your opinion.
The government can put laws into place but as we have so painfully witnessed those laws can only do so much in the way of healing the deep-set wounds of injustice. The church should be the first place people go to feel equal and appreciated for their unique qualities but as we hear so often Sunday at 11 a.m. is the most segregated hour of the week.
The heart of Christ’s message is reconciliation – not merely political correctness or co-existence but active engagement and healing between lives that were once estranged. It is a message that breaks down the barriers of race gender economic background ethnicity and tradition. It seeks to rebuild something beautiful from the rubble not continue life while tripping and fumbling over the debris as many continue to do.Followers of Christ should be shining examples of acceptance appreciation and healing between all races genders and ethnicities. But just because a church is filled with people of different skin colors and traditions it does not mean that the church is filled with people who are reconciled. Reconciled people have openly patiently and honestly confronted their differences moving forward together with deeper understanding appreciation and respect for one another.
The barriers of misunderstanding denial and avoidance will continue to exist until people from all perspectives are willing to abandon the comfort of familiarity in the name of Christ and his message of healing and mutual dependence within the church. I am not advocating a community where differences do not exist but where differences are embraced. Yes we can.
