Roaring Silence and "Dagger Vision"

Last weekend, I had an experience that I will not soon forget. An elder from our church and I went to see a brother who was incarcerated in S. Illinois. During the 400 mile trip, the elder and I were talking about race and how the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only true healing solution to this problem. We visited the man and were blessed by his warmth and joy in the midst of his situation and the harsh environment he is in. The elder and I stayed overnight and left on Monday morning. On our way back, we stopped in a small town McDonald's to get breakfast.

Then the adventure began...

As we stepped into the restaurant, I made for the men's facilities, that's when I noticed the stares. I came out of the restroom and went to stand in line to order. The person who took my order was pleasant and smiling. As my friend and I received our order and sat down, I felt the eyes upon us and the silence was deafening. One old farmer in particular was staring at me. I caught his glance and smiled and nodded at him, needless to say the gesture was not returned. Now one could argue that it was just the one guy, but wait there's more. While we continued our meal, two town sheriffs came and ate next to us. When I tried to say hello, I was ignored. Why? My friend also noticed the thick and very unwelcoming atmosphere. This was a town that time forgot. One would think they have stepped back fifty years into a restaurant that would have proudly displayed a sign that said "WHITES ONLY". Even the music that was being piped in was from the early 1960's. If you have ever seen "Forrest Gump", there was a scene where Forrest was a teenager being chased by guys in a pickup truck. The music they were playing in the background accurately matched the atmosphere we found ourselves in.

As we left the restaurant, my friend, an older white gentleman, saw and sensed the uneasiness I felt and he also saw the behavior of the camouflage cap wearing hunters and farmers who glared at me. For this writer, I now see that the silent stare is now the new way of saying "nigger".

This is a situation that challenges one to pray fro those who may despise you. If someone had shouted out "Get out out of here nigger, and take your nigger lovin' friend with you.", it would have been my duty towards Christ to forgive and pray for them. I did pray for them. In this day and age, many still hold on to the evils of the past and refuse to move on. It is a shame and a sad thing for them, but we must love then nonetheless as Jesus does.