White Christmas, reflections of a recovering racist.

I’m dreaming of a "White Christmas” reflections of a recovering racist.

 I love this time of year, the music, and the decorations. I love the message of hope, joy, peace, and love. I love giving gifts. I love the lights, the cookies, the carols. I love the time we take to share with each other as friends and family. I love the manger scenes, the candles, and the anticipation of Christmas. I love that the story of Christmas is a story of Good news for all people. I love that the creator of the universe became Emmanuel, God is with us.

But I must say that this season, my heart is heavy. It’s heavy with the pain of Ferguson, New York, and Cleveland. It’s heavy, with the racism that my privileged eyes thought we had grown past. It’s heavy because I want to believe we are better than this.

I have never known anything except kindness and respect from police and law enforcement and my life is better because of their sacrificial work but my heart is heavy with a justice system that is broken. The systems tilted. Conservative white Southern Baptist leader Russell Moore said this about Ferguson:

“In the public arena, we ought to recognize that it is empirically true that African-American men are more likely, by virtually every measure, to be arrested, sentenced, executed, or murdered than their white peers. We cannot shrug that off with apathy. Working toward justice in this arena will mean consciences that are sensitive to the problem. But how can we get there when white people do not face the same experiences as do black people?” http://sojo.net/blogs/2014/12/04/america-weve-got-problem

 

I am a white Pastor, in a mostly white state, in a mostly white church. I am seldom aware of the privilege that is my norm. Years ago, a friend took me, A longsuffering Washington Redskin fan(Yeah I know it’s a racist team name) to a game with the Cleveland Browns. He warned me not to ware my team gear but what is a fan to do? So as we walked into the stadium. For one of the first times in my life everyone judged me by what was on the outside. They yelled ugly things at me. They spoke about my lack of intelligence and my parentage. They judged my life without knowing or even seeing me but only seeing the outside. Here is my reality, after the game, (yep we lost) I could take off my gear and blend back into the privileged majority.

Some times in the midst of life we find we can’t breathe, my heart is heavy for my African American friends who wonder if their children will be safe when they leave home. I have clergy colleagues this weekend who are teaching in their teen Sunday schools classes this lesson: Palms up. Interlock fingers on the top of your head. Kneel down. Cross your ankles. Don't reach for your wallet.”

We must look at our racism in the mirror. This issue is bigger than Eric Gardner, Michael Brown, John Crawford, Tamir Rice, and Travon Martin. This issue is bigger than the cries of “hands up, don’t shoot” and “I can’t breathe.” This issue is bigger than the news cycle that will move on to the next hot topic.

The Advent season reminds me of a God who can step into the impossible and create possibilities. The Gospel stories of Mary and Elizabeth remind us of this. Could it be that these stories exist to blur the lines between what is possible and what is impossible? The doctrine of the virgin birth is not about bypassing sex but subverting violence. The one born of Mary will be know not for force but for peace. 

To speak of racism at Christmas does not flow well, it messes with our “white Christmas.” But to not look at our own racism in the mirror and deal with the reality is the most racist thing we can do.

As we celebrate our “white Christmas” we must learn that together we are better. We must learn to listen to each others stories. We must work for justice. We must seek a non-violent response to the evil of racism. We must build bridges together.

The story of Christmas is a story of good news to all. May we together  celebrate the God of impossible possibilities.

 http://new.livestream.com/boisefumc/10am