Love > Fear

In the past week I have been asked the question "do you ever feel afraid?" more than usual. The question is usually asked by a friend or family member who means well, but doesn't completely understand where I live.

People often fear what they do not know. They make assumptions about what they think they know.. Our news channels are often slanted, and depict the city as a crime ridden place where no sane person would raise a family. That is absolutely bogus.

I cannot change people.. I did not come to the city to do so.. If that were my intent, I should have left on the first day.

I can acknowledge daily that where I live is a beautiful place... My liberation is bound up with those around me. We all have a story, we all belong to each other.

Yes, it isn't always clean. Yes, I do hear gunshots on occasion. Yes, my neighbor did get arrested for dealing drugs... I am not blind to these things.

Yet, the richness of life that surrounds me each day is something I see most often.. My neighborhood has an amazing marketplace where almost every culture is representing selling clothes, jewelry, food, and other goods. I live within walking distance of an amazing park where a community parade will take place this weekend. This park is a place where I can walk with the neighborhood kids, and they have the freedom to play in a wide open space. I live two blocks from one of the many Youth Farms that exist in the city. The youth farm provides jobs for kids, and shows kids where food comes from, how to grow it, and the impact they can have on the local food system. Many of the people who live on my street are friends, families that I've broken bread together with. Families that I've gone to birthday parties for, or have seen their first child enter the world. Our doorbell rings on a daily basis with kids wanting to hang out.. Many of these kids are now teenagers, and I've seen them grow up . I work 4 blocks from home, and am within biking distance of so many places. Their are several bus lines close to my house that can connect to anywhere in Minneapolis. I could write an endless list of reasons I love where I live...

At first when people were making comments like "aren't you afraid," or "why would you choose to live there," I felt like I needed to defend myself, defend my neighbors, and set people straight. Typically as this question was presented, I ended up having some amazing conversations... It was strange getting so many comments in the past week, when I have lived here for 5 years.

I am grateful to live in such an incredible place. It's not always comfortable. Our lives inevitably collide. Yet, it is a place where beauty can be found in the most remarkable ways.

St. Martin's table.

Last Wednesday I volunteered as a waitress at St. Martin's table in Minneapolis.
This was honestly one of the most life giving experiences I have had in months.
The overall presence of this oasis in the city reminded me so much of my time at the Schloss retreat center when I studied abroad in college. People from all life stations coming together over a shared meal.


St. Martin's Table serves vegetarian meals with and emphasis on locally grown and organic food.

All of the tips at St. Martin's go towards program organizations working towards alleviating hunger in the global community.

The restaurant/bookstore was named for five Martins who have been models of change, truth and resistance in the Christian faith:

-Martin Luther, the 16th century reformer who taught the theology of the cross
-Martin Luther King, Jr., for his leadership in nonviolent protest to end racism and injustice
-Martin of Tours, a fourth century Roman soldier turned pacifist
-Martin de Porres, a Spanish-Indian healer who served the poor of Peru in the 1600s
-Martin Niemoeller, a German pastor imprisoned for his nonviolent resistance to the Nazis during World War II

I am planning to volunteer at St. Martin's twice per month. I just happened to bike to this unassuming place last week with a friend for lunch. It is a place where justice is sought and individuals come together of all ages to share life.

The day that I volunteered I couldn't get the African-American spiritual out of my mind; Let us break bread together on our knees, (on our knees)
Let us break bread together on our knees. (on our knees)
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.

Let us drink wine together on our knees, (on our knees)
Let us drink wine together on our knees. (on our knees)
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.

Let us praise God together on our knees, (on our knees)
Let us praise God together on our knees. (on our knees)
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me