Christmas 2017

A year ago I met James at 15th and St. Louis on Chicago’s West-side. He asked if I could help him obtain a State ID card. He had a baby on the way and needed a job. I said no problem. It took ten months to correct his birth certificate, obtain a social security number, and get a State ID card. Fifteen years earlier his aunt was caught impersonating his mother trying to correct his birth certificate. The birth certificate was not corrected and he slipped through the cracks. Every adult and institution let him down.
I am often asked, what is wrong with Black America? My answer is poverty. Not all African-Americans are poor, but gangs, drug abuse, school drop-out rates, poor housing, and distrust of the police and institutions are all related to poverty. Backlash to these actions reinforce the behaviors. It becomes a vicious cycle. Poverty, when not chosen, is destructive for generations.
Recently, the Archbishop of Milwaukee stated the biggest problem for America, the church and the world is secularism. It struck me because I disagreed. The biggest problem is hardness of heart.
The Church and Christians are to be lights in the world. We are not lights in the world when we become afraid, refuse to forgive, reject trusting in God, and in hardening our hearts.
When Pope Francis goes to a refugee camp and takes 12 people to Vatican City, he is not requiring them to be Catholic. He is instead addressing the needs of vulnerable people and showing the world how to act.
Jesus’ message is about Love, Trusting in God, Forgiving, and Not Being Afraid. Jesus was exasperated by the hardness of heart, the lack of faith, and the fear of the people around him, including his disciples.
Hardness of heart is rooted in power, fear, injury, anger, greed, envy, lust, pride, sloth, and gluttony. In essence being human. The solution to hardness of heart is loving one another as Jesus loved us. The bible tells us to love– God, neighbors, ourselves, our enemies, strangers, and the poor. This is how we are to be lights in the world.
Love gets abandoned because of its failures. A bad outcome and love is tossed aside. Loving does not mean allowing ourselves to be abused. Love, in most cases, is not inaction. Would extra love have stopped Hitler, Stalin, or Bin Laden? Unlikely. However love anchored with trust in God finds hope.
How do we trust in God? Seeking, asking and knocking (praying), . Praying is an action that involves listening, discovery, and response. With practice it bares fruit.
Loving and Trusting in God has worked for me. I have seen disasters in not loving or trusting. I have witnessed the softening of hearts of the worst gang members. I have loved and experienced love in return. I have walked into deadly situations and experienced God’s grace. I have seen the despairing experience new life and hope. Anger, fear, and being hurt lead to hardness of heart. Softening of hearts leads to grace and hope.

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