Kelly and I drove over to Charleston for the day. I cannot fully understand or explain the mix of emotions I experienced. Walking around the city, looking at the memorials and even the old homes, I had a sense of sadness and sacredness. In one sense, this place seemed like holy ground.
Why? Maybe because the long history of this city. Maybe because of the lives who were lost in this place. I'm not sure really why. In one sense, this seems a place stuck in the last: whose glory days have forever past. And yet, memorial is important. We must remember: both the honor and dishonor of our past. The grand civilization that once was. The majestic buildings. The stately culture. The terror of human enslavement.
The story of slavery if part and parcel of this region. Out of such suffering has come a cultural mix of African, French and other European influences. This diverse mix has produced a fascinating culture.
This city makes me think of our country. As we honestly learn to face the good and bad of our past, maybe our memories become not simply memorials to past achievements or reminders of bitter pains but the foundation for new possiblities in the future.
Anyway it was a rich day remembering the diverse worlds that converged to form this city.
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