Flip Sides

Has anyone had those Ritz “flipsides?” they’re like half cracker, half pretzel…oh man, let me tell ya- its crunchy, salty goodness! Well lately I think about those things a lot because it’s amazing how many flip-sides seem to occur in life; you see one side of a situation, person, circumstance, then BOOM, it’s not a  cracker, it’s a pretzel!

So basically right now I’m struggling with this idea of perspective (as reflected in my last post). It's kinda frustrating that there always seems to be another side to everything. I can make equally convincing arguments to myself about all kinds of matters. Theological (I.e. you should always go to church…focus on the discipline of it versus it’s ok if you don’t, if your body/mind need rest and you need more intimate time with Jesus you can skip! Emotional (don’t use people to fill emotional needs versus god puts people in our lives for seasons and maybe he places someone in your life to help you carry your burden). Physical (you should run every day versus your body needs rest). Personality traits (being so present in what you are doing is a good thing versus when you are too present other important matters fall away, you can forget about other duties and responsibilities). None of these examples are ones I particularly struggle with, but you can see what I’m talking about…hopefully.

It’s been really evident in my trip to Jackson…the dichotomies of life.

I attended JSU  3 years ago. I didn’t have a car so I pretty much stayed within a 10 block radius…school, grocery store and coffee shops were all in walking distance. The surrounding area is what one might call “rough.” Robinson road, the road I lived on, is notorious for shootings and jumpings, the homes are scattered with dilapidated, abandoned, broken down houses, lots of low rollin cars and drug deals. This is all I knew of Jackson, like I said, I never traveled much out of JSU boundaries. But NOW, I have a car and have been able to explore the city. If you travel a little north of Jackson on State Street you hit the Fondren district (which is comparable to say Wallingford or Ballard in Seattle…hipster coffee drinkers with tight pants and fake glasses.) I am staying with a family (a white family, haha) around that area. The kids attended private school, the son owns like 8 guns and is big into hunting, they live in a nice (but not annoyingly so) home. Anyways, so you can see how different the experiences have been thus far. I am making it sound like everyone in the JSU area is scary, mean and sketchy and those in Fondren are pretentious and snobby. Well this is NOT TRUE, I am simply describing what I see. And yes, this split in the city does not only happen in Jackson, it’s everywhere, but it’s been so fascinating for me to only drive through and see it, but be able to have experiences on both sides.

The family I’m staying with is AMAZING (to say the least!) I met their daughter, Casey, in Kenya last summer. She was at Pepperdine, I was at UW but we both ended up at the Rafiki Village orphanage through a program with our college ministries. When I first found out she was from Jackson I just about cried, a response, she admitted, she had never witnessed. I had to explain that Jackson itself isn’t particularly special, but that it was near and dear to me because of the experiences I had there. Anyways, fast forward to now:  she heard I was traveling and that I would be in the area. She wrote me a message that she is overseas but that her family would love to have me. I’ll admit, I was a little skeptical. But the moment I walked into their home, all worries subsided. They reminded me SO much of my own family. The mom, is so warm and inviting. The dad is hilarious, but not overtly…he throws in funny phrases and one liners here and there (gotten a snort or 2 outta me!) and their son, Ross, is the cool, smooth 16 year old boy that knows most things about most things! (He’s also given me a lesson or two on the art of hunting). Friday night we ordered pizza and watched a movie as we snuggled up on the couch. As I thought about what the snap shot might look like I was touched…who woulda thought that my week long encounter with Casey in Kenya would have led to nearly a week long stay with her family? (I really should stop being surprised by the random ways God brings people into my life...but I can't help it, continue to be in awe!)

I've gotten off topic..oh right,flip-sides. SOOO, while I've been here they are having some remodeling done and the painters are black. Naturally, I was curious to see if I could get some time with them. Right before I left I was able to stop Ben, an older man with tinted glasses...so cute! (Some of you know I have a thing for older men. Not older like handsome, grey fox, George Clooney types, older as in the ones that hunch over and wear sweater vests and pull their pants up near their nipples!) Well Ben isn't there yet, but he's well on his way! Anyways, we talked for a solid 30 minutes during which I was reminded of those damn flip sides! If I am the cracker side (pun intended) he is most certainly the pretzel.  He shared his experience as a black man during and prior to the civil rights movement...stories of discrimination and hatred. He told me he worked in a paint store,was the only black employee, worked the hardest, longest hours, was called names,and was paid the least (by a lot!) At one point he had to stop and gather himself...tears rolled down my cheek. I am NOT a pretzel and I will never experience that...EVER. But gosh,there is something beautiful when you mix a cracker and a pretzel..it's a whole new flavor. Totally different...yet perhaps meant to be together.