Good Friday, Soul Food, and the current Economic Crisis

Today is Good Friday. Some may say what is so good about it. I think they have valid reason to question the goodness of this Friday or any day but...I beg to differ. This Friday is uniquely good because of what was done on a hill in Palestine over two thousand years ago. Something that was not clean cut and pristine but something that was gruesome and bloody. The scene of one of the most violent murders and executions not because of the actual acts of torture or what we have seen from the Mel Gibson movie but because this was the murder and execution of the Son of God.

This bloody scene
Far from being innocent
Has sentenced me
Guilty as charged
A wooden stake
A blood stained crossbar
Seen from the past
Back to the future
Through ghetto alleyways
Lonely lynching trees
Hateful glances
Turned to second chances
Two thieves on each side
Represent you and I
The mob goes wild
Thirsty for blood
Shouting crucify him
He is somebody's child
This bloody scene
At Golgotha
Place of the skull

There is something about this day when we choose to remember it that evokes dirtiness and at the same time cleansing. It brings up images of the most violent waste and yet we the followers of Christ choose to see redemption. In the same way my ancestors chose to take the slops and scraps that were given to them because they were seen as less than nothing and they chose to see redemption. Although they were given these scraps of unwanted food and animal parts because their oppressors saw them as dirty they cleansed themselves by redeeming what was given to them and affirming their own humanity. They were given scraps and the things that no one wanted and they made soul food.

Hamhocks
Black eyed peas
Collard Greens
Soul Food
A kind word
A roaring laughter
A welcoming smile
Soul Food
A rugged cross
An empty tomb
A risen Christ
Soul Food

In these days and times where many are losing their jobs and we watch the stock prices plummet. Where even folks in Beverly Hills are taking their jewelry to the pawn shop so that they can get by. Let's remember the cross. Let's remember redemption. Let's remember that no matter what slops and scraps life throws at us we can either choose to see the negative or look at the plan of God which is always redemption. That's why today is Good Friday :)