June 06, 2020

A Blind Eye And Racism - Bob Jones


You could say I always wanted to be the Barry Manilow of writers. “I write the words that make the whole world read.” I Write The Songs won song of the year in 1975.  Manilow sang it but Bruce Johnston penned the lyrics and said he was referring to God and the spirit of creativity as the writer of the songs. 

God directed my writing to the themes of hope, comebacks from setbacks, and mental health. The themes were expressed in the life stories of people I’ve come to know and love. The reward of writing is being read and hearing from people that they see themselves in the stories.

I rarely make myself the subject but in this instance I will make an exception. The brevity of the post needs an explanation. In the last three weeks I lost sight in my right eye because of a retinal detachment, had surgery and while convalescing my wife fell and broke her arm. Two days after her accident my surgery went awry and I had to undergo a second surgery. For the rest of June I’m forced to lie prone during the day. We are totally homebound as neither of us can drive.

We’re doing our best to lean into hope, believe for a comeback from the setbacks and work to sustain our mental health through prayer and the kindness of friends and neighbours who have provided meals and rides and laughter. 

As I write now, I must place the screen of my computer on the ground, tilt the keyboard into the legs of a chair and lean over the seat of the chair to type. This is a sure way to make brevity an ally.

When the rivers rise you they will not sweep over you. Isaiah 43:2

In these perilous days I may have found a fourth theme.

Esau McCaulley is black. He is a priest in the Anglican Church in North America, an assistant professor of New Testament at Wheaton College, and the author of the forthcoming book Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope (IVP Academic).

In light of George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis, Esau asks, “As an act of love, what if the church says, “It should not have to be this way, and I will spend my life beside yours testifying to the values that the Christian tradition places on your black life.”

I can’t turn a blind eye to racism. 

Bob

12 comments:

  1. The events of the past few weeks have made all of us reflect, i think, on our society and what we can do as individuals, to turn the tide. I wish you a speedy recovery, too. Thanks for encouraging us to ponder.

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    1. Deep healing required - for eyes and hearts.

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  2. What about the racism I face? Because I'm an old, white male, I suffer 3 kinds of discrimination from others. Actually, my poor vision creates a 4th type. America and Canada have plenty of anti-white haters. They place the blame of the past on folks like me. Check out what the Bible says about the sins of the fathers and how children aren't to be punished for their parents sins. While we decry injustice, we mustn't follow the fickle crowd who blames modern people for ancient atrocities.

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    1. I empathize with your vision issues, Bruce. This may be a watershed moment of revolution or revival. I'm for revival.

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  3. In spite of your physical challenges, setbacks and resulting stress, Bob, I commend you for choosing an outward-looking attitude in this piece. It may be brief but it is thought-provoking and well written. May you and your wife have full and quick recoveries.

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind thought, Val and your prayers.

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  4. So many of us are grieved by where our world is at today - broken and fallen and in need of Jesus. As Christians we understand that there should be no barriers in life. In the eyes of Jesus we are all equal. I too hope for a speedy recovery for you and your wife. Thankyou for writing about you.

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    1. Hi Vickie. We are living and writing through historic times. Words matter. Thank you for making yours count.

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  5. What you’ve written in this blog, Pastor Bob, has connected with me on many levels--from eyesight issues for my husband to concerns for a dear friend who is in the US right now. She is dealing with a lot on a personal level, including a history of racial discrimination and tensions for herself and her family. I gleaned what I needed from your post for myself, especially the promise that God is and will be with us, so we won’t be overwhelmed when we pass through the waters. (Note that Isaiah said “when,” not “if.”)

    Finding solace, I sent your writing on to my friend, who sometimes says, “We’ll do such and such, if the creek don’t rise.” The nearby creek is rising for her.

    I prayed for my husband, whose vision had gone blurry in both eyes after a second vein breakage--one in each eye. (He could basically “make out the furniture” at that point.) Our local optometrist got Hank an appointment, quite quickly, with the specialist in Edmonton. I prayed for healing and/or treatment that would heal the Norwegian’s eyes. The next day Hank could read the date on his appointment card and he can do the banking mostly on his own these day. We are thankful.

    May God bless you and your wife and heal you both. I cannot imagine how you managed to write this piece in the contorted position you describe. Thank you for bringing us this powerful message.


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    1. Thank you so much my Barrhead friend. So good to know of your husband's recovery - offers hope to others like me.

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  6. Thanks for sharing your poignant message with us, despite the near-impossibility to compose on your laptop. You showed determination as you "lean in to hope"! Your words of hope are an encouragement to me, that when the rivers rise, they will not sweep over us. God bless you as you ponder your fourth theme! I pray that you and your wife will both recover soon and with success for your eyes.

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  7. You are an encourager, Sandi. I am back at the keyboard at about 30% capacity.Words matter. Keep sharing encouragement.

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