Christian witness takes place in all of life—including the realms of family, church, work and citizenship. Sometimes we are called to leadership in one of these mandates. This will inescapably involve both joy and anguish. They come together. I’m thankful for those persons who take this risk and willingly share their experience, wisdom, tears, and hope. I’m inspired and strengthened by their courage.
Recently I reconnected with a friend, the Rev. Howard Bryant. He just turned 96 in September and is going strong. He grew up in the Black church during the years of Jim Crow in Eastern Oklahoma and Northern California. He was in the Army and with the Black Panthers, in partnership with disciples of MLK Jr. and Malcolm X.
Howard is a man of wild grace and courage, praise and dispraise. I once sat beside him at a large table in a backroom when he led a prayer after a frustrating meeting with major New Jersey political bosses. He prayed with such specificity and intense passion for God to cleanse the deep corruption and overt racism in the state with a mighty river of justice and righteousness, that I thought we were going to be physically attacked. The anger was palpable. But so was the Light. Eventually we got pragmatic commitments on accountability in policing and walked out through the midst of them.
This kind of salt (not saccharine) in citizenship and politics, is needed today more than ever. The powers and principalities of misogyny, white racism, and economic inequity are raising their ugly heads. They know their time is short. There is deceit and scapegoating towards immigrants and Haitians in particular. They are violating the ninth commandment big time. I believe effective resistance begins in mysticism and prayer—and truthful pragmatism—as exemplified by leaders like MLK Jr., Fanny Lou Hamer, and Howard Bryant.
Howard’s persevering witness inspires me to dive deeper and surface. Years ago Coleman Brown suggested I buy a black book and write down the names of specific people and communities I know to intercede for—one by one— including enemies. Work without prayer is dead. Howard Bryant leads in this mandate of intercession. He embodies a way through life’s toils and snares by praise and dispraise. He’s a rare witness to the hope of resurrection.
“Work without prayer is dead.” [Lord, in your mercy…]