How frequently do we find ourselves caught up unconsciously into self-imposed perceived “comfort zones?” I suppose they could serve some purpose, depending upon the circumstances, as long as we do not allow ourselves to become enslaved to them. To venture forth to broaden the area of such zones however, would certainly seem to be admirable as well as most advantageous. However, to simply reduce one’s exposure and immediate environment to such limits would certainly set a dangerous precedent which could (and most certainly would) continue to diminish until finding one’s self reduced to a point of social, civic and especially religious suffocation as the “uncomfortable” situations continue to multiply. Why not try broadening that comfort zone instead–no matter how gradual!
From experience one finds that a plant’s growth is inhibited by the size of the container in which its roots expand. If not repotted during its required growth it will at some point begin to deteriorate. The growth of the human mind and spirit no exception!
Indelible in my mind will ever be an occasion when I was asked to address a group of ministers who had no integrated congregations. “We chose you for the task because we consider you to be shock-proof,” my friend added.
When the discussion actually began, the first comment made was: “We choose not to integrate our congregations because we are more comfortable with the way it is.”
The shock that I was not prepared for was that the statement came from my dear friend of many years who I thought had invited me to help open the minds and hearts of others!
The comment that followed was: People are not comfortable with others within their own family!
With that, other ministers began to inject hurtful and humiliating situations they had encountered among their respective parishes–and the ball continued to roll. Ironically I never got to speak at all as the situation continued–out of hand.
During the years following The Tribune’s relocation from Henry Street to its present Melrose Ave., location, (vacated by Melrose Library’s move to its present location across from the Landsdown Apartment complex), many public gatherings began to define it as a new, convenient meeting place that drew unbelievable professional attention and attendance–including one that included an interesting visit by KKK members–proclaiming their purer motives than generally perceived.
This most prominent and effective weekly gathering was started by Minister Kirk Ballin, while pastor of the Unitarian Universalist Church, following a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. documentary shown at Valley View Mall. “People Uniting to E’racism” was but one of several of its name changes. Yet one could never have imagined the respect and influence that grew through this regular gathering of attendees that included professionals as well as other serious-minded game-changers-–nor of some of its unbelievably positive results!
Kirk! It may well be time to try this again to hopefully help purify while broadening “Comfort Zones.”
