What concerns you most about Memphis?

Poverty. Unemployment. Hunger. Troubled schools. Infant mortality. Health care disparities. All these issues concern me deeply, in my work and in my life. But my greatest concern, and my hope for solutions, lies with the way we as a community view these problems. Anthropologist Ruth Benedict said, “We do not see the lens through which we look.” In order to address all these problems with creativity and hope, we must examine the lens itself.

Last year when Forbes rated Memphis as the nation’s 6th most miserable city, many of us were outraged and turned to focus on the things that make us glad we have chosen to live here. This year, though we have been buoyed up by many upbeat pro-Memphis initiatives, Forbes has downgraded our “miserableness” only to 16th place. We could look at that as damning us with faint praise. We could despair of ever making it out of the top 20. We could grieve the unsavory publicity. OK, maybe a little. But the way to recreating a City of Good Abode is to take a moment, vent if we have to, examine the problems with a clear and polished lens, and get back to work. Stopping to examine our lens will refresh us as we live out our commitment to making Memphis a place where there’s less and less reason to sing the blues.

What concerns you most about Memphis?

Disunity and lack of consensus on basic issues like education, jobs, race and public safety seem to me to be of greatest concern.

What concerns you most about Memphis?

Memphis has all of the elements of greatness. It is a diverse, vibrant, arts-oriented breeding ground for the talents of another generation. What concerns me most is that the tri-state Delta area seems haunted by the past. The potential to become the cultural and spiritual hub of the nation is within reach, but is often hindered by the ghosts of race and poverty that fuel many of our educational and political skirmishes. It is time to put the pieces of our potential together, to face the past, heal our collective wounds, and focus on a future that will dawn with or without us.

What concerns you most about Memphis?

I am concerned that so many Memphians have such a pessimistic view of our city…we are our own worst enemy at times. I have had the wonderful opportunity of visiting a lot of major cities and I wouldn’t want to live and work anywhere else. I am concerned about the urban/suburban divide and wonder why suburbanites can’t understand that their future is tied to Memphis’ future and vitality. We are in this together. I am concerned that so many continue to ‘racialize’ things at the drop of the hat. I’m not naïve here…my whole career has been committed to racial reconciliation and justice…but we are not the city we were 40 years ago. Can we take some time to celebrate that? When I have out of town guests they marvel at our racial diversity and celebrate it, yet we seem to continue to beat ourselves up. Yes, we still have work to do, who doesn’t? But I for one want to continue to move forward. I am concerned about poverty. We must work together to empower the poor towards self reliance and dignity. Again, we can do this and we can do this together: government, the religious community, non profits and the business community, working together to make Memphis as famous for it’s progress and generosity as it is for barbecue and the blues!

Racial tension.

Poverty.

Childhood obesity.

These are the first three maladies I might normally diagnose when examining the patient that is metro-Memphis. I’m tempted to name any one of these as the most significant sickness facing our cities.

But upon further reflection, I think another disease demands need greater attention. The disease of distraction.

To clarify, I’m not certain distraction is a worse syndrome here than elsewhere. But it is certainly as prevalent here as elsewhere. Richard Foster, bestselling Christian author and speaker on spiritual formation, was asked last year, “What’s the curse of the postmodern age?” His answer? Distraction.

A close friend once hosted a dinner for Jesus. She got frantic trying to make everything perfect for this ultimate dinner guest (and you think you’ve got it bad when your mother-in-law comes to dinner!)  Jesus had to finally stop her and tell her: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. Only a few things are important, even just one.” Problem? Distraction. She was distracted from the one truly good thing by a lot of other important things.

Jesus once noticed how people in his day got worked up about having the house they wanted, the clothes they desired, and the meals they wished. Jesus spoke up: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  Problem? Distraction. They were distracted by significant issues and had forgotten the supreme issue.

A long-time and beloved elder in my congregation had a saying: “The main thing is the keep the main thing the main thing.” These words connected so deeply with us that upon his death we had the words painted and hung in our building. With great wisdom, he saw how even us religious people (perhaps especially us religious people) get distracted from the main thing.

This was certainly true in Jesus’ day. The trained clergy in his time used to debate which of the over 600 commands in the Bible were the most important. Each could make a case for why he felt this command or that command was superior. They finally drew Jesus into the debate. “What’s the most important command?” they asked. Jesus simply said, “Love God and love your neighbor.” Problem? Distraction. They had gotten distracted by all their scholarship, theology and tradition. Only a few things were truly important. Actually, just one.

We’re distracted today by smart phones which won’t shut up, televisions we won’t turn off, and schedules that won’t let up.  We’re distracted by the squeaky wheels in our organizations. We’re distracted by the very serious sicknesses which plague our metropolis. We’re distracted by the religious experts urging us to “give this” or “read this” or “do this.” There’s a lot to be worried and troubled over. But only a few things are important. Actually, just one.

What concerns you most about Memphis?

I am concerned that residents of the Memphis metropolitan area do not recognize the possibilities for transformative action that are all around us. We are a city that is bursting with opportunity to make transformative changes in the lives of our residents and the life of our community. We have gained a lot of labels in the past few years…hungriest city, most overweight city, poorest area in the nation. What an opportunity people of faith have to work together in partnerships to become a “a city on a hill” and a light to the nation. The key is – if we work together to tackle these issues. In the late 1980′s our city was marketed to the business world with the phrase “Start Something Great In Memphis.” This phrase let people know what an entrepreneurial spirit Memphis possessed. The Spirit is great in Memphis. We have a vital faith community. It concerns me that we may not see what is right in front of us – our calling from God to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the prisoner…and respond by setting aside our religious differences to build coalitions of faith – across theological divides- and tackle these issues together. If Danny Thomas, Rev. Dr. Scott Morris, Fred Smith, and Kemmons Wilson – as individuals – can transform health, communication, and family recreation, what could faith leaders and their congregations accomplish by working together on hunger, obesity, and poverty – with God’s help?