The perils of indifference

I am haunted by this picture of an AIDS patient and the death in her eyes. This series of pictures was put out by Time Magazine a few years ago. This image came to mind when I was reading a speech given by Elie Wiesel at the Seventh White House Millennium Evening, Washington, 12 April 1999. As I fight against my own indifference and as I groan at our collective embrace of apathy I also plead with God to awaken us to the extreme suffering in our world, that each of us would find our place in bringing His redemption to the least of these…. And not just temporarily where we feel we have done our bit or because our curiosity seeks to be satisfied but authentically, consistently, sincerely… *deep sigh*.

Here is an excerpt from his profound speech.

“What is indifference? Etymologically, the word means ‘no difference’. A strange and unnatural state in which the lines blur between light and darkness, dusk and dawn, crime and punishment, cruelty and compassion, good and evil. What are its courses and inescapable consequences? Is it a philosophy? Is a philosophy of indifference conceivable? Can one possibly view indifference as a virtue? Is it necessary at times to practice it simply to keep one’s sanity, live normally, enjoy a fine meal and a glass of wine, as the world around us experiences harrowing upheavals?

Of course, indifference can be tempting- more than that, seductive, it is so much easier to look away from victims. It is so much easier to avoid such rude interruptions to our work, our dreams, and our hopes. It is, after all, awkward, troublesome, to be involved in another person’s pain and despair. Yet, for the person who is indifferent, his or her neighbors are of no consequence. And, therefore, their lives are meaningless. Their hidden or even visible anguish is of no interest. Indifference reduces the other to an abstraction.
Indifference is always the friend of the enemy. ”

Informed by theology

"If your opponent has a conscience, then follow Gandhi and nonviolence. But if your enemy has no conscience like Hitler, then follow Bonhoeffer." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Annie, my beautiful bella got me the Bonhoeffer documentary as one of my birthday gifts. Bonhoeffer is the hizzie fo shizzie. There is hardly anyone I respect and admire more, than Dietrich Bonhoeffer. A theologian, underground resistance revolutionary and martyr. I have almost all his books. Not only do I find his writings profound and powerful, they’re matched with a life and death worthy of the calling he received. In fact God used these words from, my favorite book, “The Cost of Discipleship” to call me into a life of serious followership;
“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Glen Kehrein came and spoke at church last Thursday night. He schooled us with a very profound history on Race in America and Chicago. He closed with a powerful fatherly challenge of “where do we go from here?” He challenged us to not do what the Church has historically done with this issue… supported the “status quo”. He challenged us to be the remnant that pursues God’s way. I walked away feeling that the “how” part requires that my opinions, political ideas and personal journey must continually die and be reshaped and led by organic, authentic, biblical theology first.

Bonhoeffer was adamant that, when society abandons the way of God... and even when the church and it’s leaders align themselves with government and popular opinion, the Christian is always to pursue the Way of God first. The Law of God always supersedes the law of the land. This is the way the Church retains her prophetic voice against the clamor of covert evil. The Church, he said, has the irrevocable duty to ever stand on the side of victims of injustice. How sad that so many of our churches remain silent for far too many "accepted" social injustices. We are far too busy being introspective and purpose driven when our voice should be heard loud and clear on issues of race, immigration, housing, AIDS, poverty etc.

We need more Bonhoeffers and Kehreins, and Christs! Oh, wait… do I mean Christians! Mhmmm…

...so the story continues

"There is enough for everyone’s need but not enough for everyone’s greed.” - Gandhi

Turns out the bank robber was a clown and the money was only $6,000 and the gun was a toy. Mmm…. I’m glad they caught him. I hate clowns.

Well the good news is I got to sell the footage I took of the robber being arrested to CBS and to WGN Chicago’s WB. Crazy, CBS offered me $150. A few hours later WGN showed up at my front door with a big camera and put the spot light on me for an interview. They also gave me $150 for the footage. Mmmm… strange how I had to cancel my flight to Canada this morning where I was to speak at a winter retreat this weekend. I was so down as I was really, really looking forward to it but my Visa was supposed to arrive on time and did not. I was even more bummed when I had to pay $100 to cancel my flight and then all this happened.

This evening while the interview played on channel 9 and the story was retold a couple of times I sat with my friend Charlie. We spoke about it and laughed as the funny text messages and phone calls came in. Charlie and I get together to eat Chinese and pray and as we prayed tonight something about the reality of the situation saddened us. The desperation of a man to rob a bank stuck with me. Now, I’ve been poor and desperate (believe me, I’ve earned a youth pastors salary and I know) But something about the price he was going to have to pay for this federal offense saddened me. What a price he was going to pay, he forfeit his freedom for just $6000. Yet that is the penalty for his crime, for his sin.

Well it was a bizarre day and I’m still trying to figure it out. I am sure it will all make a great sermon illustration or something someday.

Here are some links to the news pieces done on the story and some of the footage
- CBS2 Chicago
- WGN Chicago’s WB- Look for "Bozo Bandit Caught" Video. (I was interviewed in this one.)

The Runaway Bank Robber

You see some crazy stuff in Chicago but I never thought I would get to see the arrest of a runaway bank robber.

So I’m sitting working on my computer this morning and I hear these guys swearing obscenities at the top of their voices… “There he is the mutha*#%$, get him, come here you mutha*#%$...” And I walk over to my window and there in front of me is this unbelievable scene; there is this skinny little white guy with a stocking on his head running through the parking lot outside my window, trying desperately to jump on to a bicycle while wads of sealed cash drops out of his pockets. The two guys running after him, a college kid and a tall African American man (who I later found out was an off duty cop) dive on him and tackle him to the ground. In the process this machine gun (bigger than the guy) drops out of his coat and goes flying. I kid you not. A machine-gun the size of a man’s leg. Not a pistol or a sawed off shotgun, no, a fully automatic machine gun. And the police car sirens are getting louder from all directions. Cop cars show up from every direction. There are about 20 police officers all over this guy. He’s yelling, “you got the wrong guy. Stop I have asthma.” And the cops are using cuss words I have never heard before. They got their guy.

Turns out the guy planned on hiding in our trashcans out back till everything cleared up. He left his bike parked in our house parking as a get away vehicle. (Seriously?!) The two guys who tackled him were both in the bank (a block away) while it was being robbed. Now I know my money is safe at Chase... thanks to the loyal customers. The bank says they reckon he had 150,000 on him! It was incredible. I caught a bit of the arrest on my camera and will try and put it online later. I'm first going to see if he may have dropped some cash in the trash for me.

Welcome to the Old Town hood.
And people think Africa is dangerous!

Just some thoughts about No-talent-ass-clowns

After a mentally straining day at a gentrification seminar, I found myself at the Abbey Pub with the crew, decompressing while supporting our stunningly talented friend Naomi as she sung and strummed at this open mic night. If she were a martini she would be a smooth blend of Eva Cassidy and Patty Griffin with a dash of Lauryn Hill just to spice things up. Shaken not stirred of course.

Here is what bothered me:
We had to endure some horrific musicians who obviously grew up with parents who clearly lied to them about their "talents" throughout their growing up years. I mean really! I sat there, and in my far too vivid imagination I teleported myself into their childhood years. I saw myself sitting year after year as a fly on the wall in their homes, hearing mom and dad tell their little Janis Joplin wannabe, “honey you can become anything you want to be if you just put your mind to it.”

And there they were on stage in this good ol' Irish pub still pursuing the lie, striving to become what they were told they could be if they just put their mind to it. Now I don’t mean to sound like a dream killer or a glass-half-empty guy. If you think I’m awful and you don’t believe me just watch 10 minutes of American Idol as those crushed souls run out into the arms of their parents after they encounter the truth of their lack of talent. I think we all secretly agree with Simon because he is the honest boy shouting, “the king has got no clothes on.” And they sheepishly leave with their tail between their legs. Every one of them is met at the exit by their family who immediately continues to encourage their quest with lines like, “those people, they just don’t know real talent when they see it”, seriously parent’s, stop lying to your kids. You’re not helping them; you’re harming them...and us.

Okay, I know, I’m no Adam Duritz. That’s why I keep my Counting Crows renditions to the shower and car. I know where the talent ends and the pain begins. All I’m saying is, we need to be honest about our giftedness or lack thereof. I know I will never be the President or an astronought (see I can’t even spell it). And I think knowing this is great. It will help me get to where I’m supposed to be faster and smoother. It is this reasoning that makes me absolutely hate the movie Rudy. Seriously, that movie makes me want to cry with anguish. Someone please sit this kid down and tell him that he sucks.

I once took a friend golfing for his first time ever and I liked what he said before he was about to hit his first ball, “This will either be a hidden talent I didn’t know I posses or just another thing I suck at.” It turned out to be the latter… but I admire his clarity and honesty. I understand there is a period where we explore something and enjoy it. But after a while there must come a time where we realize we are torturing those around us and ourselves when we could be functioning in our real giftedness.

I may be a heretic here but I think this is a principle the AP was getting at when he said, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you… we have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” Rom12

With that said, I sit back, sip on my beer and let Naomi sing and play. I celebrate her gifts and know God is smiling as she uses her talent well and wisely.

*Disclaimer- If I offended anyone’s sensibilities by knocking on Rudy I kinda apologize but c’mon think about it.