A Tale of Two Men

I was part of a small group recently where people were talking about how long they had lived in the same area. Many in the group were life-long residents. Some, including me, had returned “home” after years in another place. One man noted that his family had lived here for over 300 years. Their home had been a large plantation at one time. Another man’s ancestors had also lived here for a long time; they had been able to buy some land that was once part of a different plantation. The first man’s family had owned property for a long time. The second man’s family had been property…. The two men are devoted to their community. They work together for the common good. They are friends. And maybe it is progress that they can and do sit together at the same table. But the sheer energy and persistence of that second man and his ancestors to get to that table boggles the mind. And we have so much more to do to overcome the injustice of the past that lingers on into the present. Lord, have mercy.