Day 2- Birmingham
Day 2 was full of Jesus. We woke up to share worship with the people of Messiah Lutheran, worshiping in a tradition familiar to many of us and hearing about how if we're open to what God is doing, we're going to have to go wherever God sends us. It was a sentiment echoed through our journey to Birmingham and our dinner with a retired pastor active in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. If you're open to the work that God has planned for you, that will mean being sent to uncomfortable places or remaining in dangerous places for the sake of God's kingdom.
Our first stop in Birmingham was the 16th Street Baptist Church for worship #2. 16th Street Baptist was a congregation where there was a lot of "trouble-making" going on in the Civil Rights era. It was host to boycott and protest organizing meetings and as a result, it was also bombed, killing 4 young girls in Sunday School. It highlighted the evil of racism in a way that sent shock waves through the country. We joined them not for their history, though, but to hear the word of God among our brothers and sisters. And Pastor Price is a powerful preacher- reminding us that we need to keep pushing through whatever stands in the way in order to get our way to Jesus. That's PUSH- Pray until something happens. And If people stand in the way of us getting to Jesus by trying to judge us and saying we don't belong, he reminded us that "none of those folks have a heaven or hell they can put you into" so just get your way to Jesus who can change things.
It's what the folks in Birmingham knew as they used the methods of non-violent protest to bring justice in the shops downtown. They marched in protest of unjust laws. They showed up in "whites only" establishments to be arrested to bring attention to the evils of segregation. And they began to invite school children into the protests and the marches- especially welcoming high school cheerleaders and football players- all the cool kids so that they might influence others. And theses students marched- even when the police used water hoses and dogs to attack them, even when they beat them and arrested them. They connected with celebrities, they used code to tell people when to all converge on downtown businesses and they sang. They were clever and subversive and a deeply connected community as they worked to bring God's justice on earth. And they reminded us of how we hope to be.
And tonight, Rev. Robert and Jeanie Graetz joined us for dinner. Pastor Graetz was the pastor of an African-American Lutheran congregation in Montgomery at the time of the boycott and he and Mrs Graetz were bold and courageous supporters of the boycott. As white supporters, they were hated by many and their home was bombed 3 times. They were in danger while driving throughout the state and in danger when they were at home with their children. But they knew that segregation was evil and they had to "stand up to the bullies." Their safety was always secondary to doing God's will. And even now, 60 years later, they are passionate about speaking and acting for justice and calling others into this life-giving work.
We all gathered tonight (after another night of showers in the homes of Messiah Lutheran members, whose gracious hospitality has been an incredible gift) for reflection and prayer and talked about the places where God has shown up. In the worship, in the singing, in the children playing on the street, in moments that felt like home and in places that felt so blessedly different, in the statues of pastors praying in protest during the boycotts, in seeing the resilience and faith of those who protested, and in this community of students here who are passionate about being changed. God is here- in the holiness of the history we learn about, in the people we talk to, and in us. Thanks be to God.