By Rev. Heather Wright
There have been times in my life that I felt like an outsider, that I wouldn’t be accepted or wasn’t worthy of kindness or love. I am so grateful that God has a heart for those who don’t feel like they fit in or belong. The God of both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures cares for the outcasts, the suffering and those on the margins.
A month ago, I was in Birmingham Alabama – on a brief two day trip which included crossing many boundaries. The first was flying from the north to the south, driving from Atlanta to Birmingham. I was there as a board member of an American nonprofit which supports a university abroad, called The Friends of Forman Christian University in Lahore Pakistan. Talk about crossing boundaries, this university was founded by an American Presbyterian missionary under a tree in 1864 and now has over 8,500 students. They bring together Muslims, Hindus and Christians to study together and build connections. Our American board helps to scholarship women and Christians, a persecuted minority in that country, both groups who do not have access to education. The way this university works to promote peace, tolerance and share good news in that part of the world inspires me. They cross boundaries and encourage their students, faculty and staff to do so as well. They have influenced the region, with many graduates who have become Presidents and government leaders in both Pakistan and India.
While there, I had another boundary crossing encounter, I went on a tour of the city revisiting its history. I had not been aware of all that went on in city of Birmingham in the 50’s and 60’s, such divided and violent times. Because of segregation, crossing a certain street or moving into a new neighborhood could be life-threatening. Between 1947-65 there were 50 bombings to keep black people “in their place.” One area of town became known as Dynamite Hill. One story made me cry. We stood in front of the Bethel Baptist church right next door to where the manse stood. On Christmas night 1956, a bomb went off intended to kill the voice for change, the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth and his family. The roof collapsed and as the terrified neighbors gathered in front, out of the rubble Rev. Fred walked out unhurt and said to a policeman, “if God could keep me through this, then I’m here for the duration.” His young daughter took his hand and said, “they can’t kill us, can they daddy?” He looked down at her and said, “They can’t kill hope.” We have a choice to make in unjust and threatening times – to fear or to trust God, who is sovereign and upholds the universe by his power. But when we are in physical or emotional danger we can lose sight of this truth. I am so glad that Rev. Shuttlesworth and so many other brave souls clung to that truth.
One of the comments our tour guide said hit home. “Here in the south, when this was going on, everyone was going to church.” I wondered how you can preach about Jesus without including his care for those who others turned away from lepers, the blind and poor, women and foreigners. He not only saw them but embraced them, engaged and connected with them. He offered them new life, healing and transformation. It’s so hard to believe that people could listen to sermons about the Good News of the gospel, about a God who crossed boundaries out of love, and still feel justified torturing and terrorizing people during the week. It made me wonder about the darkness of my own heart and areas that I may be blind to the truth or deaf to areas God is inviting me to grow. I trust I will process this experience for years to come.
Crossing boundaries can be messy, even dangerous, it can turn our world upside down. But we go with a God who has gone before us. God leads us to move through our fear and to trust, hold onto hope, and be ambassadors of the good news. We can love others with God’s power which transforms our lives and others’ as we do so. Out of love for us, Jesus breaks down the walls that divide and builds bridge instead. In Birmingham, it took some brave ministers and others who stepped into the gap, who were willing to be beaten, tortured and risked their lives to take a stand for peace, hope and forgiveness and build bridges.
In our divided time, it is easy to be afraid, threatened and mistrust those who are different from us. More than ever, we need those people who practice love, reconciliation and peace-making even when the ones they are reaching out to may not seem receptive or deserving. When we do the light is brighter and darkness is pushed back. As people of faith, we go with God’s help and strength in crossing boundaries in our family, community, and world. Let us join God’s mission in repairing the world.
The Rev. Dr. Heather Wright is Pastor of Care and Connection at Stanwich Church, a licensed therapist and author of four books. You can find more information about her at heatherpwright.com.
