I don’t have answers as much as I am simple inviting you into some of my reflections that are stirring in me.

Bishop Hope has challenged me and some friends on the ordination journey to explore racial issues. One of the things we were asked to read was about the race riots that happened in Wilmington, NC in 1898 (you can read the articles here from the News and Observer). One things that keeps happening in me as I grow older is that I have a different appreciation of time. When I was a kid I would have thought that something happening in the 1960s was ancient history, but now I read these horrific events of 1898, and I feel like they are much closer at hand where the effects linger and stifle the air we breathe. In the midst of imperfect efforts of cross racial cooperation that seemed to offer a small sense of hope in Wilmington in the 1890s, rose up a wave of white supremacy that crushed that hope and radically reshaped our states future.

It is interesting that since living here in North Carolina I have heard the news reports of rearranging voting districts and the concern was over taking power from African American voters. I don’t know what motivations truly lie behind things like this, but I just find myself more sensitive to things now after these recent reflections of our past.

Another thing that disturbed me reading these stories was that some of the hateful propaganda of the 1890s spoken against black lives and anyone thought to be in support of them, seems to carry an echo of the words and thoughts I have heard floating around toward other peoples groups today including immigrants and refugees. Like the concern of who has the jobs and who doesn’t.

During morning prayer I was in Psalm 72 and I found myself praying in a voice other than my own. Even though this was a prayer of Solomon, I still was imagining it on the lips and hearts of the oppressed. I prayed that the mountains would yield prosperity for those in need and righteousness would flow down the hills to the people. I prayed for leaders to lead in righteousness and justice. I prayed that leaders would defend the cause of the poor and give deliverance to the needy. Thinking of a black man facing the fear mongering of the 1890s or of our current neighbors who are experiencing the injustice of today I prayed for the crushing of the oppressor. I trust in God’s love and righteousness that God’s crushing of an oppressor doesn’t look like my version of crushing that would just be perpetuating the more of the same violence and hatred.

Lord God, deliver the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper. Redeem the lives of those oppressed and living under the arm of violence. God, it hurts to look at our history of hatred and sin, open our eyes to the places that these vile forces are still at work in us and in our community and guide us in your love and righteousness. By your grace free us. Amen.