The Crowds

Well, the big news in my hometown is that our beloved basketball coach is probably leaving for the University of Kentucky. As recently as Thursday, Cal, as he’s known, made it plain that he loves Memphis and is very happy here. Of course that was before the U of K offered him as much as $40M over the next 8 years to come there. While I’m disappointed that he’s leaving—he’ll take his staff and most of the top recruiting class he had planned for Memphis—that’s not my major disappointment.

My major disappointment has to do with priorities--and not even his. The media have been going nuts over the pending decision. TV reporters are camped out at the University and Cal’s home. One station put a webcam up showing the door to his home to catch him coming or going. Reports have been coming in all day for two days—its headline news. Well, yes. It is a big deal when a major university known for its powerhouse basketball team loses its head coach. But.

But, what? Over the past weekend, while some of this was beginning to develop, 5000 women of various races, theological backgrounds, and ages gathered in Memphis to promote racial unity and harmony in our city. A city which is continuously torn by the playing of the “race card” and can find racial overtones and undercurrents in almost everything. Yet, 5000 women got together and said, “Enough. Let’s look for ways to reconcile, to grow together to get past the past.” And the media response? Just about what you’d expect. Almost nothing was written or televised about it. I’m not surprised, but I am disappointed.

It reminded me of the Gospel for this coming Sunday. When Jesus enters Jerusalem the people go crazy. Palm branches, shouts of “Hosanna!” Lots of excitement. And there is a crowd when he is tried too. They shout “Crucify him!” But where is the crowd when, a few days later, he is reported resurrected? I’d think that would be a major deal too. But, beyond the few faithful, nobody notices. As the story is told, people respond to it, but at the time—no crowds, no shouts, no nothing.

Maybe that’s what will happen here. Cal will decide and leave and we’ll get a new coach. He’ll rebuild and we’ll be a contender again. And while the papers and TV are reporting each step of the way, these women and those they influence will be about the more important business of peace-making. All without fanfare. One can only hope. And pray.

Peace,

Jerry+