Reflections with Pastor Ed

Ed Ruen is the pastor of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church located in the near west side at the intersection of 28th and Wisconsin Avenue. Pastor Ed stopped by to have a brief conversation regarding the events that occurred this August in the City of Milwaukee.

Question #1: What are your thoughts related to the events that occurred in Sherman Park?

Answer: I went to a book (in the bible) that I rarely go to, Lamentations. A book about grieving, destruction and lamenting. There is death, injustice and grieving in many areas of our society. Drugs, war and injustice are all around us. Using the book of Lamentations as an example allows us to breath and allows for the grieving process and highlights even in the darkest moments we have hope.

Hope has two beautiful daughters. The first being "Anger", anger at the way things are (or as we see them to be). Second, "Courage", courage to make a difference in changing what we do wrong. So we must grieve and we must tap into the feeling of pain so we have the desire to change what is happening.

Questions #2: How can we in the near west side respond?

Answer: Let's look at the family of change makers who we honor today including Dr. Martin Luther King. Dr. King's quote regarding the audacity to believe is truth and we must not accept the reality of injustice. Dr. King's quote is right on and our society we must look at ourselves and that if collectively if we work together we can change the injustices of this world.

“I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture of their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits. I believe that what self-centered men have torn down, men other-centered can build up I still believe that one day mankind will bow before the altars of God and be crowned triumphant over war and bloodshed, and nonviolent redemptive goodwill will proclaim the rule of the land.” - Dr. King

Question #3: What is needed to move forward in a positive way?

Answer: We must, in our community, develop sustained relationships. Relationships give power and strength. Because of the nature and structure of our current society we have not been able to build those sustained relationships.

Some years ago, I worked with seven kids in a New York community. If you saw these kids and knew about their background you may be led to believe there was no hope for them. By developing sustained relationships with these kids I was able to assist them in developing a powerful program for youth using music in the City of New York.

Not only should we develop these sustained relationships, we need to spend time with all people, including people who are different from us.

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