A few days after George Zimmerman was acquitted in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed American boy of African descent, I found myself in Washington, DC, among people of a remarkable variety of ethnic and national backgrounds, speaking a number of languages and dialects, and covering the entire age spectrum from newborns to nonagenarians.
Although not particularly obvious, I have no question that the people whom I encountered in that city represented all of the world's major religions (and a great many of the minor ones) as well as non-believers. Some of them were wealthy, some were middle class, and some were poor. Some lived in the area; others (like Marge, Adam, and I) had come from a distance.
What most impressed me as I observed the others with whom I was sharing the city that week, was how easily they interacted and how comfortable they seemed to feel with each other. I found this to be the case in the museums, memorials, and malls. I found this to be the case at the ball park (where I saw my Dodgers play for the first time since 1968, 45 years ago).
The only place where I encountered even a touch of superiority was at Mt. Vernon where a few of the women interpreting George Washington's home spoke with a tone that hinted of arrogance, but even there, that tone was used toward all the visitors - not any identifiable group or groups.
In the weeks before I headed south, I had preached on forgiveness, sacrifice, examples, and getting along as God works through us. Each time I traveled on the METRO as a part of this diverse group, I realized that for the most part, these people were practicing what I had been preaching. I was moved to be seeing an example of the fact that Christ's teachings can work.
This also helped me process what had happened in the Zimmerman case and conclude that despite my disappointment upon initially hearing the verdict, and my questions about the law on which it was based, the case is not an indication that our differences are insurmountable.
For what I observed as I watched and interacted with the people in our nation's capital, offered me both hope and promise that we can and shall overcome those differences and even be enriched by them. That is what we had been singing during those pre-vacation weeks. That hope and that promise make a more powerful statement than the Zimmerman verdict.
My time in Washington was not, however, the only way that hope and that promise have recently been conveyed to me.
The second vehicle conveying them was my preparation for our time of "Worshipping With Chuck." For the life and teachings of Charles Wesley - although three centuries ago - convey the same hopeful promise.
I see it in the way that he endured and overcame the abuse that he and other Methodist preachers experienced.
Bells, fire engines, horns and yelling were used to try to drown out the preachers. Animals were driven into the assembly. Potatoes, eggs, stones and even dung were hurled at them. Meeting houses were attacked, burned, and torn down. Some preachers were thrown into ponds and rivers. [I am happy to report that things have improved for Methodist pastors since then.]
Why were the preachers disrupted and attacked? Because they were different!
The Methodists were more enthusiastic. They sang more loudly. They were more disciplined. Their services were often outdoors or in homes and not in formal cathedrals and churches. They paid more attention to the poor.
Charles Wesley not only persevered, but actually overcame all this - not with physical force, but with love and faith. In fact, the places where Charles encountered the worst riots, became strongholds of Methodism.
This ability to overcome differences is reflected in his relations with George Whitefield, a friend who had a tremendous impact on early Methodism, but who split with Charles and John over the issue of pre-destination. While followers of each clashed with each other, the Wesleys and Whitefield continued to have an amicable and respectful relationship. [That is why those of us at the NEJ CAH meeting in May, visited a Presbyterian church in Massachusetts to pay our respects at Whitefield's tomb.]
And so both history and the present give us confidence that even as we encounter the verdict in a Florida court, we shall overcome the destructive potential of our differences with others.
To date, this is the most important lesson to be included in my "back to school" essay on "How, I Spent My Summer Vacation." But I still have August (and the mission work I will be doing this month in Southwestern Syracuse).
Who knows, I may have to do a second "back to school" essay.
Jim