Yesterday brought some resolution to one of the more painful national heartbreaks of this past year. My heart ached as I read this morning the story of how “outside the Cup Foods convenience store where George Floyd was killed last May, a woman nearly collapsed in tears upon hearing the guilty verdicts against Derek Chauvin, the police officer who killed Mr. Floyd. ‘We matter,’ she said, straightening up. ‘We matter.’”

Deep in my heart I believe that there is so much more good in us than we can imagine – and yet there are seasons and events that deeply challenge that faith. Over the past year I have wrestled along with residents and staff in this community through several conversations around why something like Floyd’s murder could happen – what it means and how we can do better. They’ve been such meaningful conversations – looking into the pain of our nation, the pain in our hearts, and finding beneath it all a goodness, a sincere yearning for healing that leads us to a deeper and fuller conversation. As James Baldwin once put it, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” This morning on my drive to daycare drop-off Fred Rogers sang, “When your heart has room for everybody, then your heart is filled with love.”

I’m still unpacking a lot of feelings from this past year, not least the ones around this one event. And as I do I am led forward by the hope that is in me – that in our darkness a light shines, one that nothing can extinguish.

As Dr. King famously said, paraphrasing the words of the nineteenth century Unitarian minister Theodore Parker: the arc of the moral universe is long but bends towards justice. The idea of justice has a deep and rich meaning and I want to leave you with this helpful reflection I read this morning from Rev. Traci Blackmon, pastor in Florissant, Missouri and Executive Minister of Justice & Witness Ministries for the United Church Christ:

She writes:

My understanding of justice is rooted in Hebrew scripture. The Hebrew word: tsedek translates as justice. It also translates as righteousness. True justice is the restoration of right relationship between God and humanity and right relationship among humanity.
What we call justice in our judicial system is really measured vengeance. Even if every person who has ever committed murder were executed on death row, right relationship would not be restored. But vengeance would be achieved.
Courts cannot legislate justice. Courts can influence behavior. Courts should ensure there are consequences for harmful behavior. This serves as an invitation to repentance for the offender and a caution to others who might think to do the same.
That’s not justice. But it is necessary.
Justice occurs when hearts are changed.
Courts don’t deal with hearts. Verdicts don’t deal with heart. Courts deal with behavior.
Is justice possible? Yes it is. But only through submission to radical love.
It happens. I’ve seen it for myself.

May we keep learning and keeping living our lives following the call of radical love – in our everyday interactions with residents, with our families, friends, and neighbors, with one another, and especially with ourselves. May you all be well and supported today and may the blessing of God or all that sustains you, keep you safe, grant you peace and fill you with all that you need, just for today. Amen