This weekend a video went viral of a confrontation between a policeman in our town and a young African American. As hard as it is to watch, John and I have viewed it several times. We’ve prayed, and reflected, and read the many articles and responses.
(Warning – graphic language)
Everyone watches through a certain lens, with particular baggage, expectations, and bias.
People are quick to take sides. To want to say this person was RIGHT and this person was WRONG.
But what if issues like racial tension became less about one-upmanship and more about relationship?
What if our posture was more one of humility, curiosity, and respect towards those different from us?
As I’ve reflected on this, I really think one of the keys to racial reconciliation is that we ask more questions, and listen longer than is comfortable.
I wonder how this cop and this young black man would answer these questions about the incident:
- How did you feel during this experience and why?
- What were you thinking? What motivated you to respond the way you did?
- What, if anything might you do differently if you were to have a “do over”?
Whoever’s “side” we gravitate towards initially, what if we were to listen carefully to “the other’s” answers and ask more questions?
What if the cop were to invite the young man out for coffee and just listen?
What if the cop were to listen deeply to the young man’s answers with respect and without defensiveness?
What if the young man were to listen deeply to the cop’s perspective?
Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. 1 Cor. 13
