The second lesson in today's Daily Office readings tells us to, "hold firm the confidence and the pride that belong to hope" Pride? Humility is taught as a virtue, and pride sounds like the opposite. One definition of pride is "self-respect." Adding that to humility helps distinguish it from humiliation. Hope calls us into the humble but proud realization of our collective nature as children of God.
We have lived through too many riots. I lived in LA during the Watts riots of 1965. I couldn't imagine then that similar frustration would still be so combustible in 2020. So many hearts are breaking. First, for George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery. They are breaking over the certainty that others must have suffered similarly before cellphone videos. They are breaking for all those good and dedicated police whose job is made more difficult by lawlessness in their ranks. They are breaking for shop owners whose livelihood is burning.
In 1992, the Rodney King riots broke out in LA while I was attending a church convention in downtown Oakland. A Black community leader came to speak to us. He said, "Don't worry. Nothing bad will happen here. This is our city, our world. We will take care of it. We will take care of us, and we will take care of you."
We hope and work for the day when all can say together, "This is our city, our world. We will take care of it. We will take care of us, and will take care of you."
