Tagged With "Poem"

First thing you may ask is What?? and then, perhaps, Why?? Well... The story of Jesus’ arrest, trial, death, burial and resurrection can be difficult for many people, but none more so than the victims of abuse or neglect, or for anyone especially affected by violence. We want to be sensitive to the special needs of those that have endured trauma, but still remain truthful to the gospel. So, what is a parent, children’s minister, or pastor to do around Easter? It’s a tough situation. If you...

I stay near the pit (inspired by Rev. Samuel Shoemaker’s poem, “I Stand by the Door,” and Psalm 40) © Chris Haughee, 2018. All rights reserved. I stay near the pit. My cry was heard and I was lifted from it. And while my feet are steady on the Rock and the path is laid straight before me I was not alone in that pit. There were many others with me, stuck in that mire. So, I stay near the pit. I had tried for a long time—such a long, long time— to make my way out, to find myself planted firm...

Hi, Chris, One thing jumps out at me about this poem. Black is for shame; white is for grace. I believe that the author and you mean good and no harm, and the association between black and bad/ white and good is so historical and pervasive that I would not use this version of the poem/ story. Racism is pervasive, often unrecognized, and traumatic. Peace, Jaime

Jaime, great point. Not sure how to mitigate that... The spiritual teaching point would need to be differentiated from any conclusions that could be drawn by the hearers in regards to racial judgment. I probably do this by habit, now, having worked in a multicultural setting for years, but this would not be intuitive for others, and for them your reminder is helpful! Chris

What a great revision! I needed it just a week earlier to revise the "Jelly Bean Catechism" bags we made this year. Next year, we're on it. The whole "black" and "white" thing is so difficult, because this imagery is everywhere - in art, literature, and Scripture. Thinking about it, it occurs to me that the problem is with labeling PEOPLE "black" or "white". It has always seemed ridiculous to me since no skin color is either black or white.

So... given the black jelly bean white jelly bean discussion, I thought Jane's recent post on here was interesting: https://www.pacesconnection.com/...hite-prince-ea-5-min

I like the video. I think it's all true and I hope we don't get into a simple either-or way of looking at race and all the history and current conscious and unconscious dynamics that surround it. Yes, labels limit- we are much more than those. And labels privilege others. I see both- and, and simply as adding some thoughtful context around the jellybean poem (and there are other similar apparently innocuous stories, movies, images) could make it richer and even more meaningful. Peace.

How would the Black community react to the sentences that start with Black, and White?

Wow. Thank you.