"First of all," he said, "if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view […] until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
Last weekend, my 10-year-old son and I drove from Greenville, S.C. to Montgomery, AL. In honor of Harper Lee's 85th birthday, we listened to the audio version of To Kill A Mockingbird read by Sissy Spacek as we traveled. I go back to TKAM again and again, for it is a novel that is like a mother to me, helping me remember who I am and who I can be. Is there a novel that is like a mother to you?
I'm still trying to learn the simple trick Atticus shared with Scout, the willingness to try to really understand people, to consider things from their points of view, to climb into their skin and walk around.
One thing I like about the Street is the possibility and the place it provides for us to talk to each other and not at each other.
Will understanding each other make the world a better place? I don't know. I hope so. I do know Ruby Bridges' Mother said of her daughter
"Our Ruby taught us all a lot. She became someone who helped change our country. She was part of history, just like generals and presidents are part of history. They're leaders, and so was Ruby. She led us away from hate, and she led us nearer to knowing each other..."
What a wonderful vocation...to try to lead people away from hate and nearer to knowing each other. Here's to Harper Lee, Ruby Bridges, and Street Prophets...and the possibility of getting to know each other.