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Two men, two different realities

By: Rev. Rich Zeck, lead pastor at Brooklyn UMC and Dakotas Conference elder

Yucel Moran Yh8v3zlcq5u Unsplash

Photo by Yucel Moran on Unsplash.

About six or seven years ago I ordered my Sunday breakfast usual from my regular spot. The nice person said, "Sir your $20 is not real and I have to keep it and turn it in." Then she asked how I would like to pay. I handed her another $20, got my change and my meal.

I grumbled about losing $20 on my way out under my breath, "that sure was an expensive meal deal!" I just went about my day, nothing ever happened accept, I was kind of grumpy that morning preaching my sermon. It was a stewardship sermon, if I'm remembering it right.

I remembered this today as I listened to George Floyd's memorial service today.  I wondered—two men, two different races, two different realities.

I have been preaching for over 30 years and having the same meal, at the same, franchise, with a large diet coke. I have done the same thing almost every one of those Sundays, and thanks to drive-up even Covid-19.

I have really never thought of my Sunday morning breakfast as privilege,  until I thought about losing that $20 in Brookings, South Dakota,  and suffering zero consequences. George Floyd and I sure faced different realities.

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