Confession

There has been a ton of material cyberspace on the issue of race and Ferguson over the past several months and for the most part I have remained silent on the issue. Prior to this year I would have responded like most WASPs I have seen respond on the internet about it is time to move on and get on with the real issues of life.
Earlier this year I was fortunate to take a class on reconciliation training and my eyes were opened to a new way of seeing the issue of race relations in our culture.
Some of the things I took from this training are as follows:
1. My experience as an American Citizen of European descent is not universal. Just seeing and hearing about the experiences of those who are different than me helped me to see the problem of race in this country did not disappear with the emancipation proclamation or  the civil rights act of 1964.
2. I do not know what it is like to be a person of color, female or homosexual in the United States today because I have not walked in those shoes. There is no experience I can have as a white, male heterosexual which can give me that experience on a daily basis.
3. As a white, male, heterosexual I have been the member of the privileged class in our society. I have done nothing to earn this privilege it has come as a result of who I am and I must confess I have unknowingly taken advantage of that privilege without realizing it was there.
4. Racism is a major issue that needs to be dealt with in this country and until it is dealt with in our society and the world at large. The issue will continue to hold us back as a nation until it is erased.

Since that training a couple of months ago I continue to struggle with the issue in my life. I am more aware when I hear statements made by people that could be construed as racially in nature. I often wonder what how I need to respond to such statements.
I have also come to some conclusions:
1. I need to listen to the stories of people not like me to hear about their experiences in order to become aware of  the how their lives have been impacted.
2. I need to seek to understand how their lives have been and continue to be negatively impacted by the racial divide that has existed in my world.
3. I must do whatever I can to continue my in this area as I grow in my faith because the two go hand in hand.

I must confess this has been an eyeopening experience for me. I have had to confess my own sin in this area. Deal with my own desire for the quick fix and begin to work towards a solution the resolves the issue. While I do not fully understand everything that is behind the events of Ferguson, I am more aware of why it happened and it will continue to happen in communities like Ferguson around the country.

Faith, Family and Glass

I have three great passions in my life: as expressed in the title of this post: Faith, Family and Glass. My faith has played a role in my career choice all of my adult life. But there have been times when my career as a pastor has had a negative effect on my faith. It is easy to get all wrapped up in the politics of church and lose sight of the reason (at least it is for me) of why I am there to begin with. Then I begin to see God clearly again through all the muck and the mire of playing church and faith becomes rekindled and see how this is all supposed to work. I must admit I am worried about the church with all the changes that have occurred during my time in ministry and I have to confess my generation of pastoral leadership has failed to move the churches we have served  (for the most part) to keep up with our changing  culture expecting things to keep on in the same manner as they were handed off to us more than 30 years ago. I do remain hopeful with the new leadership I see emerging trying to move the church forward. In spite of everything I remain a person of faith. I will continue my walk with God the rest of my life.
Since I have become a grandfather I have seen my family expand in many ways. Reconnecting with extended family and seeing my roots in some new ways has been increasingly important. I recently went through the county seat where my father was born and discovered some things I never knew about my family on my father's side because he talked about it in bits and pieces and I never got the full story. I never knew the great deal of respect his family had in the community he grew up. I heard stories of how difficult it was growing up through the depression and how tough it was being a kid in his hometown. I didn't hear about legacy of his grandfather and great-grandfather had left with the life they lived. I guess he always wanted us to make our own way in life rather than be thought of as people of privilege. That is what I believe I have passed down to my children as well because I learned it from my father.
Glass is something I have discovered on my own. It has not been passed down to me but I picked it up because I needed a venue in which to express myself outside of my faith and family. I keep finding new and more expressive ways to express my many moods and emotions through the medium of glass. It is the most creative thing I do, and I am constantly learning new approaches to this amazing material. Since I have been working with glass I have seen my creativity expand and develop and it has helped me to explore new areas of life and help develop my other passions. I have now learned why the arts are so important to young people. The arts serve to aid other areas of life as one develops and moves from childhood to adolescence and finally into adulthood.
I since I have been working with glass I and surprised how every piece has turned out. It continues to surprise me in so many ways.

Back in Haiti

Finally, I made it back to Haiti after being gone for a year and a half. Some positve changes are evident. A new building at the guest house with lots of additional rempdeling taking place. New and completed projects at orphanges and at CONASPEH. I have also seen new buildings around the city springing up. Slowly but surely improvements are being made.
Some of the most impressive projects I have seen this trip have been the Aparent Project and Rebuild Globally.
Aparent helps children whp have been given away by their families or sold into slavery leave that life an.d develop skills and they sell their work intheir store. Jewelry,  pottery, metal work and other items are all for sale produced by the students.
Rebuild globally is a business making sandals from old tires and old leather garments.
They employ 13 people currently at a living wage with benefits, on property in the Tabbare area of the city. One each pair of sandals there is the names of the maker and a little bit of their story. You can purchase the sandals online at www.rebuildglobally.org. This is a buisness model I feel it is important to support and some businesses in the USA could learn.