I didn’t get much done yesterday afternoon. Following the staff meeting, I listened to the press conference of Mike Freeman, the Hennepin County District Attorney. At this press conference Mr. Freeman made his case for why he has decided not to charge two Minneapolis Police Officers in the shooting death of Jamar Clark, a young African American man. After listening to Mr. Freeman, I listened to the reaction of leaders of the African American Community.
It appears the forensic evidence points to the District Attorney’s conclusion. I heard that this was expected from many members of the African American community who were disappointed but not surprised. There is passion and heartbreak and the sense that justice is elusive on all sides of this most unfortunate incident.
I had planned to read and write a little on my sermon but could not focus at all. I kept looking at news websites. I called both my kids, one who lives in NE Minneapolis and the other in Brooklyn Park.
The most helpful thing I did was get into a Facebook conversation with a friend of mine who is white, my age and a pastor. When I mentioned that I think I’m getting a little less radical in my old age, he responded with, That's okay. But we, and by we I mean we middle-class white guys, always need to look at situations like this from the perspective of African American people whose experience of the police is very different from ours. I found that word very helpful.
By the time 6 o’clock rolled around and confirmation was an hour away, I finally let my focus on this issue recede a bit. Life does go on and youth do show up for confirmation. But let me just say that there was something important about the struggle. I may not have gotten much done, but God did something with me.
Keep the Faith,
Pastor Dan
It appears the forensic evidence points to the District Attorney’s conclusion. I heard that this was expected from many members of the African American community who were disappointed but not surprised. There is passion and heartbreak and the sense that justice is elusive on all sides of this most unfortunate incident.
I had planned to read and write a little on my sermon but could not focus at all. I kept looking at news websites. I called both my kids, one who lives in NE Minneapolis and the other in Brooklyn Park.
The most helpful thing I did was get into a Facebook conversation with a friend of mine who is white, my age and a pastor. When I mentioned that I think I’m getting a little less radical in my old age, he responded with, That's okay. But we, and by we I mean we middle-class white guys, always need to look at situations like this from the perspective of African American people whose experience of the police is very different from ours. I found that word very helpful.
By the time 6 o’clock rolled around and confirmation was an hour away, I finally let my focus on this issue recede a bit. Life does go on and youth do show up for confirmation. But let me just say that there was something important about the struggle. I may not have gotten much done, but God did something with me.
Keep the Faith,
Pastor Dan
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