The Other Side of the River - Chapter 5: Friends
I remember trying to understand tragedy when Greg Fast committed suicide during 8th grade and when a football teammate JEremy was killed by his friends in late high school. These were friends, who lost their lives too early. I remember attending their funerals and shedding tears without detailed reason, save the absence of people who should not be gone. I remember when Greg Fast died that I wanted to see his mom, and that I wanted to be sure others were not treated as Greg was (had Greg not died, he may have been a professional athlete). I remember calling his mom every few weeks to say I was thinking of her and remembering Greg.
For Eric McGinnis, his friends arrived on his mother's front yard irate, and understandably so. THey were convinced, and the rapid spread of rumors affirmed, that St. Joe was up to this killing. They shared their rage on her front step, hoping for Ms. Ruth to come outside and confirm their rage by inviting them to enter St. Joe and seek revenge. She did not - Psalm 23 was her posture.
The ensuing rage from both sides of the River show how easy mob mentality emerges, not merely from McGinnis' friends, but as much as or mores from the wealthy and white counterparts. Reeves said, "This is a time bomb about to go off." The river is a real divide, a real hindrance."
The escalation of rhetoric in St. Joe following Erics death was the real culprit of the escalation violence from both sides of the river. Fear ensued, and every was both violator and violated. Mobs form and rage is executed by word and deed against the suspecting and innocent. This continues to occur today - rhetoric that is more gossip than truth turns to violence. This is most obvious with Rep. Giffords, but also in the more subtle tensions that exist in workplaces, churches, and especially schools.
I understand McGinnis' friends wanting fast justice rooted in violence. We want to be justified and right, and whatever cost for self-preservation and victory is worth it in that one specific moment. Yet Ms. Ruth's Psalm 23 posture calmed the boys in the unsettling times - more than likely the posture saved several lives, black and white. I may not be violent, but there are many times as pastor, father, husband, and friend, that a Psalm 23 posture would be more suitable than my pursuit of self-righteousness or justification. I am reminded of what God says to Moses (and Israel) at the water's edge: "BE Still for the Lord will fight for you."
For Eric McGinnis, his friends arrived on his mother's front yard irate, and understandably so. THey were convinced, and the rapid spread of rumors affirmed, that St. Joe was up to this killing. They shared their rage on her front step, hoping for Ms. Ruth to come outside and confirm their rage by inviting them to enter St. Joe and seek revenge. She did not - Psalm 23 was her posture.
The ensuing rage from both sides of the River show how easy mob mentality emerges, not merely from McGinnis' friends, but as much as or mores from the wealthy and white counterparts. Reeves said, "This is a time bomb about to go off." The river is a real divide, a real hindrance."
The escalation of rhetoric in St. Joe following Erics death was the real culprit of the escalation violence from both sides of the river. Fear ensued, and every was both violator and violated. Mobs form and rage is executed by word and deed against the suspecting and innocent. This continues to occur today - rhetoric that is more gossip than truth turns to violence. This is most obvious with Rep. Giffords, but also in the more subtle tensions that exist in workplaces, churches, and especially schools.
I understand McGinnis' friends wanting fast justice rooted in violence. We want to be justified and right, and whatever cost for self-preservation and victory is worth it in that one specific moment. Yet Ms. Ruth's Psalm 23 posture calmed the boys in the unsettling times - more than likely the posture saved several lives, black and white. I may not be violent, but there are many times as pastor, father, husband, and friend, that a Psalm 23 posture would be more suitable than my pursuit of self-righteousness or justification. I am reminded of what God says to Moses (and Israel) at the water's edge: "BE Still for the Lord will fight for you."
Comments
Post a Comment