Belonging

"There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven… a time to weep…a time to mourn"

Ecclesiastes 3:1- 4 (NIV)

Lately, times have been stressful. As Jesus was troubled in spirit and wept at a particular painful experience, so do we. When external events or our personal circumstances touch our emotions deeply, we hurt. There is nothing un-Christian about this. It is not a sign of failure or a lack of faith – it is one of honesty and of being in touch with our feelings in a way that is spiritually healthy. Contrary to some biblical interpretations, our hearts, that is our emotions, are an integral part of our journey of faith. If Jesus, as our example, can be emotional …so can we.

With the London bombings, many commentaries have focussed on religion and people’s country of origin. The media has concentrated heavily on issues relating to religious, racial and cultural identity and the geographical basis of our sense of belonging, loyalty and respect. The recent, racially motivated murder of Anthony Walker in Liverpool further conflates the discussion, with parallels made to the equally racist murder of Stephen Lawrence, twelve years ago. There are daily calls in the press for a "rethink" on multiculturalism and the enforcing of respect for the British way of life.

I self-identify as English-Jamaican, born here and therefore, fluent in English. I am also Jamaican by descent and residency. Last week I was surprised by two queries by white guys, as to where I came from. My reply "Yorkshire" was met by "No, where are you from?"– only the reply, Jamaica satisfied. Close by one of my work sites, there is a High Street shop that specialises in "times past"– it sells items commemorating Britain’s historical and cultural heritage; traditional items that reek of folk lore and nostalgia. From time to time, I walk through the store looking for anything that may indicate a black presence in these islands, past and present. Invariably I am disappointed, always nothing and yet we were here with the Romans in AD 43 and possibly with Julius Caesar in 55 and 54 BC. Some even argue that when the Indo-European Celts arrived in 500 BC they encountered peoples of African descent, living in the British Isles. There are authenticated accounts of Gormund, the black Irish ruler in the 6th century, of the black Scottish king of the Picts, King Kenneth, a.k.a. Niger Val Dub, between 997-1004 AD and the African Roman Emperor, Septimus Severus, who died in York, England in the third century. The black Celts was the name given to Britain’s indigenous population by Tacitus, the Roman historian, in 80 AD. (sources: Nubian Jak, Ali and Ali). Imagine the impact of an integrated "multicultural" history of Great Britain being taught in today’s schools, being aired on television and being discussed in the daily newspapers. Instead we are airbrushed out of the photograph.

The racism encountered by West Indian migrants in the 1950s when they attempted to join key Christian denominations, is well documented. Black majority churches were founded, not just as a response to prejudice, but also to provide support and safety, in a somewhat hostile environment. There are many issues within the "Church" that are made invisible by being ignored. Sometimes, it is easier to collude by leaving various aspects of one’s self at the church door to support the spiritual colour-blindness of us all being "one in Christ". But race matters, culture matters, and for some of us, more so than gender and sexual identity or orientation. Perhaps the traumas of the past month with give us a sense of outrage at the demonisation of "others" and a serious spirit of boldness to spend some time reflecting on how our faith can contribute to a society where all may feel "at home".

"…do not let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me. In My Father's house there are many dwelling places (homes). If it were not so, I would have told you..." - John 14: 1- 2 (Ampl.)

May the Holy Spirit of God grant you peace and a sense of belonging and homeliness.

back