On the meaning of Holy Week

                       
Last night was breezy.  Clouds were visible as they swept across a bright moon. I wondered if Jesus saw a similar sky as he stood in the olive garden that night,  waiting for Judas to betray him. Maundy Thursday--the night Jesus gathered around the dinner table a final time, commanding his friends to love and serve each other. The night Jesus was arrested. The night our church was stripped of all the trappings of our faith.
Today offered another opportunity for the reflection of Holy week--it became increasingly cloudy as the afternoon wore on. I was reminded of the darkness that followed Jesus's death. Good Friday, we call it--which likely means "holy". At 4pm, I thought about those left behind that day--the family and friends who, while still in shock,  removed Jesus's body and prepared it for burial.
And now we wait. In two days, we'll celebrate the risen Christ. It will be the simultaneous end and beginning of a great love, of God stepping down to walk among us,  of God reuniting with his creation.  Of a promise made long ago, and finally fulfilled.

A few more thoughts on my previous post...

After reviewing my last post, I realize an addendum is appropriate.  Let me start by saying that my opposition to the Black Lives Matter movement stems from my support of law enforcement--a profession comprised of people of all colors--not due to a belief that black lives do not matter.
My ongoing criticism of BLM is due to what appears,  at least, to be their insistence that all cops are flawed and need to be retrained or tossed out altogether.  I also have a problem with those BLM members who openly call for the killing of police officers.  Finally, I take issue with any group that appears to care more about criminals than those who have truly been victimized. It's understandable that citizens want accountability for the actions of public servants,  but for the most part, people are victimized by other citizens,  not cops.  So if I seem dismissive, I really am not. I am just standing up for those who spend their lives protecting all of us.

The other BLM--Blue lives matter

I am not a fan of the Black Lives Matter movement.  I think at best it is disingenuous; at worst, a terrorist group.  Many members openly call for killing police officers,  and they have suggested that police departments be eliminated altogether,  an unrealistic demand that hurts black citizens stuck in dangerous communities that need police protection.
So it was with skepticism that I read an article about the selection of the new police chief for the city of St. Paul,  and how BLM wants to be a part of the process. I think this group wields far more power than it deserves,  so frankly,  I didn't think they should have a say at all. But then I read what they wanted,  and it was pretty reasonable.
To begin, they want a good relationship with the next chief.  They also want the new chief to understand that he or she will be closely scrutinized.  Well, that's not new--police are among the most scrutinized of all professions, so that's a given. They want police to be more involved in their "beats", one of the basics in the neighborhood policing movement.  Again,  not a ridiculous expectation. They want police to forge relationships with those in the community they serve, and they want to figure out a way to get people to talk and report what they see. Many crimes go unsolved in the black community due to the unspoken, but well understood,  "snitches get stitches" rule.
They did call for one thing that is unrealistic--the trendy demand that police be 'demilitarized'. I am pretty sure that these folks don't know what that means or what they're asking for exactly.  But it's the hot word, and so they've included it. But it's unrealistic to demand that cops give up the tools and gear of the 'trade' simply to put BLM at ease.  Policing is dangerous,  deadly work, and our officers need all the protection they can get.
So, let's consider the realistic demands regarding the new police chief: officers that are engaged in their community, that have good relationships with those they are sworn to protect.  Excellent!  I am glad they want that. And many departments have already started doing those things. But a relationship is a two-way street. You can't have a good relationship with someone that spits in your direction when you walk by, or someone who tells their kids to begin filming you the second you walk up, even if all you're doing is grabbing a coffee. You can't have a relationship with the coffee shop owner that refuses to serve you because "cops aren't welcome here". You can't have a good relationship with people that shoot at you, or run the second you pull onto their street.  You can't be at ease as an officer when people ambush you. You can't have a good relationship with community members that hate you "on principle, because cops are pigs",  and who refuse to ever acknowledge you in a kind way. So, it's up to you BLM (and all cop haters, actually), to do your part in making neighborhood policing work. Our officers would like to get to know you,  to enjoy a relationship with you. They'd love to have a less stressful job, and to be safer. So,  this is your chance. Because police lives matter, not just yours.