Transfigurations and Transformations

This Sunday we hear the story of the Transfiguration. Jesus is on the mountaintop with Peter and James and John and the total confusion that ensues when Jesus becomes something he is not supposed to be.

The disciples are scared, confused, and ultimately humbled -- deciding that they should just stay here where this amazing thing has just happened! Why go anywhere else?!

Today I am thinking about the need for transfigurations and transformations in West Baltimore. More than 15,000 registered vacant homes in this city, thousands more unregistered, and even more barely livable. Many, many of those are a stone's throw from our front doors.

Honestly, this has been the case for so long that most of us just say, well that is the way it is. This is what Baltimore looks like.

But there are people working to transfigure and transform West Baltimore. This is probably the only time I will link to an article from Apartment Therapy in this space, but this interview with Shelly Halstead, along with photos of the transformation of her own home, is well worth your time. (Design Changemakers 2023: Shelley Halstead Combines Carpentry and Advocacy | Apartment Therapy)

Shelly is a light to all of us. And she has transfigured Etting street into something almost unrecognizable. And it is tempting to leave it there. But she has bigger dreams for her organization and for West Baltimore than a few renovations.

This includes business incubators, access to healthy food, artist and community spaces — all by black women for black women. Truly visionary.

The question for us is how do we go from seeing the small vision to the big vision? How do we go from charity to justice?

Tomorrow you are invited to join us at 10:30 am at Greater Harvest Baptist Church on Saratoga street to join with dozens of congregations from across the city to call for city and state action to support real action on vacant homes and affordable housing in Baltimore.

We have to stop looking for people who defy the odds to make it work, and start changing the odds so everyone has an opportunity. Please plan to join as you are able and wear a BUILD or a Memorial “Jesus Centered - Justice Focused” shirt.