During the American Civil War the country was divided in two. It’s an oversimplification I know but…In the North a general named John Tyler fought for the freedom of slaves (among other things). In the South general Robert E. Lee waged war against the Union forces. Between them – North and South – a line was drawn called the Mason-Dixon.
I grew up in a diorama of Civil War America. Tyler, Texas – where I’m spending this week.
Through the (roughly) center of town a line runs: Railroad tracks. (What a cliche.) The population north of the tracks is almost entirely non-white and lower income, and south of it is almost entirely the opposite. In the North? John Tyler High School. In the South? Robert E. Lee High School – currently the Red Raiders but originally the Rebels (complete with confederate soldier mascot and rebel flag emblazoned cheerleader outfits.)
And, oh, the disparity between the two halves. I snapped some pictures today as I drove Becky around the “other side” of town she’s never seen before.
The North:
The South:
Extreme examples? Sure. But you get the point. Growing up in a town with so many churches and so much segregation of races and wealth (and opportunity) made me just a tad bit cynical about the local church – any local church. I spent much of high school angry at God’s people – not God – wondering why they were doing nothing to heal, educate, feed and clothe folks in need just a few miles away from them.
But in the sixteen years since I left this place the forces of hope have grown. First Baptist Church in downtown Tyler has, in recent years, started teaching kids and their parents English, and caring for some of these children during the day – from what I’ve been told – for free. And about 200 doctors give their time to FBC’s Bethesda Health Clinic – a facility that heals low-income patients for next to nothing.
Incredible.
Miraculous even.
The line is being crossed. Maybe even erased.
And I just had to brag on these generous people for it. Thanks, First Baptist, for the shot of hope – for showing Tyler a God who has no borders.
Any town has it’s divisions, often deeper and more hidden than railroad tracks. It is good to hear FBC Tyler is doing the work of God’s people – and cool to know you got to see changes in a place you weren’t having “sweet home visit” great expectations about. It is funny how in Texas when you say Tyler – everyone thinks of roses. I think I have a Tyler rosebush in my garden – wonderful contrast in the pictures. Thanks
Thank you! Thank you for showing the discpeancy that I know exists here, yet I choose to look past or ignore, because I don’t know what to do. God wanted me to see this this moring. He is pressing on my heart and this was one of the many instruments He used today. I just linked to this post. Thanks.
While you might say that your photos are extreme, and the probably are; the fact that they exist at all is sad. I’m thankful that Tyler is choosing to do something positive to cross those lines. The impact will not soon be forgotten.
Beth
I don’t know of many teenagers who could pry themselves from their own mini dramas long enough to notice–let alone be angry about–the church’s lack of ministry to the poor.
That was a pretty exceptional kid, there in Tyler, Texas. I’m glad God kept that passion percolating in him over the years, because he’s doing some pretty exceptional things with it as an adult…
Shaun:
Did you take the road less traveled, get out and talk with the people who live in the houses?
Please tell us their life stories.
Or did you just play it safe and take pictures from your vehicle for your blog; like the Pharasee’s did with the Samaritan who was beaten and robbed.
Good question, Dan.
Come to the show tonight (Wednesday) at Brookhill School (in Bullard) and let’s talk about the answer.
I was gonna call and invite you personally but I couldn’t find you in the phonebook. (Is it D Graves on Oak Springs?)
Seriously, come to the show tonight, laugh, listen to some music and then let’s talk about the places that have gotten me out of my car (and the work I’ve done this week to help the folks on the other side of the tracks).
I guess this has been something that has bothered me, although I don’t have an answer for it; some people have all the money while just down the road they have a neighbor in need. And, at least what I’ve seen, those who have the least are the most willing to share.
Oddly enough, I am back in my hometown right now and noticing the same things. Good to hear your observations, Shaun. Enjoy Tyler.
Shaun -
Thanks for getting the rest of us out of our cars!
Peace
hey Shaun thanks for comming to Brook Hill and leading our chapels this week! i really appreciated you and everything you said! God Bless
- Kelsey
P.S. thanks for the picture with you!!
What about the rest of us? Or is that just a “blog cop-out” answer?
Interested, I don’t know if that question (comment?) was for me or someone else or what it means exactly. If you can clarify maybe we/I can get you a satisfying answer. I’d like to try.
Thanks.
Interested, I mentioned your questions to my wise friend Brian and we guess what you’re asking is something like…
“So Dan can go to your show and get his questions about you answered but what can the rest of us do? How can we get our questions answered?”
Answer: You can e-mail me by clicking that link under my name up top and to the right of this page…and almost every page of this site. And you can ask me stuff here in the comments and I’ll either answer here or e-mail you. (I’ll need a valid e-mail address for you in order to do that.)
Then you made what we think is a jab at me. Forgive me if I’m wrong. It’s not real clear. We suppose you’re saying my response to Dan was a “cop out.” A cop out, as I understand it, would have been dodging the question somehow. Instead, I opened myself up for more questions. I even tried to call him. I WANT to answer.
Instead of dodge I issued an invitation.
Did I understand you right, Interested? Do my answers make sense?
If you want to take another stab at your questions I’ll take another stab at my answers. Or if you’d like to suggest a better way I could deal with questions like Dan’s (and yours) you can share that as well.
Thanks.
Hey Shaun, it’s Jeff Brown, fellow saxophone player, from Robert E. Lee.
I can’t believe it. You’re playing at Calvary Chapel my church this weekend in Fort Lauderdale. I’d like to meet you there! Please email me if you get this.
I recall well the vicious brutality that characterized the REL Rebels vs. John Tyler rivalry. From what I can tell, it has gone underground now, but the motivation is very much still there, with the perpetrators always looking for ways to get away with it without getting themselves in trouble.