We live in a collage of images and experiences, and there is no singular event or emotion that can come close to a description. The images of George Floyd taking his last breath under Derek Chauvin’s knee unleashed a cacophony of responses from almost everyone in this city, and now across our nation. It would be shallow to describe what is happening as simply anger against the systemic racism of this country, although that is part of the collage. As a city and a nation we have experienced separation on so many levels over the last months: politically over impeachment, medically over a pandemic that is still not harnessed, economically over the impending depression, and racially over the death of George Floyd – and this is only in the first five months of 2020.
In his poem, “The Second Coming,” which was also written in a time of violence and pandemic, W.B. Yeats writes in part:
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the center cannot hold;
We hear from our friends and neighbors a sense of fearful awe. Most don’t know how to respond, and the dread that “the center cannot hold” overshadows the tangible. Something deep within them is being shaken, because it is so far from their lives, which have been predictable and independent. Now, life is far from predictable as helicopter images and news reports shifting back and forth between several groups of rioters glue many to their screens. Our neighbors ask, “So what do you think is going to happen tonight?” Fear fills the void between reality and the familiar that once held people confident. We feel the old assurance of many being shaken. Some react, while many wait to grasp a steering wheel, palming for the gravity that once held them to some center.
From the streets of Minneapolis, it needs to be said that this is a complex story that isn’t captured well in the headlines. First of all, those bent on violence and destruction are a minority, even while claiming media focus. Secondly, protesters here are not only of one color, but express the diversity and the universality of the cry for change. Moreover, the vast majority of protesters are peaceful: grieving, memorial-building people who are determined to promote a systemic change in our culture. And perhaps, most importantly, there are people intentionally rebuilding in the wake of the looters. Several days ago, members of our community drove up to the epicenter of the violence, the Third Precinct Police headquarters, and joined thousands of people with brooms, dustpans, shovels, trash bags, and masks. In quiet and determined opposition, we cleaned up streets and sidewalks, tossing bricks from fallen walls back into the buildings, our actions saying, “Let’s rebuild – not just the horrendous destruction of buildings, but our society as well.” We had hardly started before someone came up to us, offering water and trash bags. Families arrived, neighbors came, even the Lexus drivers joined in. It was a tremendous encouragement and a great show of resilience. It continued all the way down Lake Street, over miles of broken glass and still smoldering fires, but now swept clean.
It seems that we are approaching a historic hour of need for inner direction. People are longing for a way to live that honestly and authentically represents the gospel of Love and Life. Please pray for the people of Minneapolis and St. Paul that the grief and conviction would not turn to hate and violence, but be used by God to heal and change our society. Please pray for our political and religious leaders that courage, wisdom, and truth would prevail. And please pray for our small circle here at the Crossroad Community, that we might be prepared for the coming Great Things of God.
Members of Crossroad join others in cleaning up Lake Street.
