MLK, Africa, U2 and a nine year old

Tonight I put on U2's Vertigo concert filmed in Chicago in 2005. My boys, Michael (9) and Daniel (5), love to dance to this concert video and nearly collapse from exhaustion by the fifth song. Eventually Tracy trotted off with Daniel to bed and Michael and I curled up in the recliner to watch a bit more.

We have a pretty routine conversation that repeats itself again and again. It goes something like this: I say, "This is my favorite song," and Michael says, "Dad, you say that about every song."

But because today is the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. I especially wanted to watch/hear "Pride (In the Name of Love)." It's a song that's dedicated to MLK and also includes strong illusions to the sacrifice of Christ. If you have watched this concert video you know that Bono begins talking about King and then segues to "Where the Streets Have No Name" by alluding to King's "I have a dream" speech. In the background the video curtains descend with beautiful flowing images of flags. He's watched this before, but this time the flags caught Michael's attention and launched us into a fairly lengthy conversation about Africa. Here's an abridged version.

Dad, why are all of those flags coming down?

Those are the flags of different countries in Africa.

Why do they want to show African flags?

Because Bono wants us to remember that the people in Africa are poor and many are sick. They don't have most of the things we have. A lot of people don't have enough money to buy food to eat or medicine to get well. (You try explaining senseless poverty caused by international debt, HIV/AIDS, malaria and foreign trade restrictions to a nine year old!)

Well, can't they just go to work or get jobs at McDonald's or something so they can buy food?

Many of the countries are so poor there aren't enough jobs for everyone, and there really aren't a lot of McDonald's in Africa.

Dad, since I'm learning to build things do you think I could go there and help them build some stuff?

That's a great idea. Maybe you can help them build wells so they can get clean water, or new farms so they can grow better crops. Maybe we can go there together and help them someday.

If we go there do you think I could take a bunch of things that I don't use any more. Like maybe when I'm eleven or twelve I could take the toys that I played with when I was nine. I'd like to share what I have with them. (Pause) Do they live in tents or something like that?

A lot of people live in shacks that are very small.

Well, do you think we could take some hammers and some nails and some wood and build some nice houses for them?

I think that's a wonderful idea. You are such a kind little boy....

"Streets" ends at about this point in our conversation and I say something like, "It's so hard to turn off a U2 concert," and Michael responds with "I know, I know, because every song is your favorite...." Soon we're climbing up into his bunk for story time.

Dad, do you think we should read a story about generosity since that's what we were just talking about?

Yup, sounds like a great idea.

So we read the one about the selfish giant who chases all of the children out of his beautiful garden. Without the presence of the happy children the garden loses its enchantment and quickly begins to die and then freeze over. The giant quickly realizes that when he shares his garden, both the garden and his own cold heart start to thaw. Kind of cheesy for a college professor; pretty engaging for a nine year old.

Michael, what do you want to pray for tonight? (A minute or two of silence passes.)

Dad, remember what we were just talking about while the U2 concert was on? I want to pray for Africa. Dear God, help the people in Africa to have food and to feel better and to live happy lives. Amen.

Dad, if we're going to go to Africa we should probably learn the language.

That's a very good idea but that would mean going for a long time.

Then we better take a whole refrigerator full of food!

I have so much to learn from this nine year old boy before he turns ten. "Let the little children come...."

Above: Pride (In the Name of Love)

Above: Where the Streets Have No Name

Comments

[Micheal]

Best. Post. Ever.

Thanks Tim for a great post and an amazing insight. I pray that my heart will be moved like that of a little child. My my heart break for what breaks the heart of God.

Thanks again.

[Tim]

Thanks for the comment Michael. It was one of those spontaneous timeless conversations that make so much of the hard work of parenting pay off. I can only pray that we'll have more of these times together. Peace to you.

[Karen Peters]

Hey Tim...
the dialog between you and your son reminds me of the one Erwin McManus tells about in The Barbarian Way: "Daddy, I wish I had a billion dollars so I could give it all away."
"That's good honey, but what about you? You need to keep a little for yourself so you can buy food and clothes and things."
"No daddy you don't understand. I want a billion dollars just so I can give it ALL away. Why would I want a billion dollars?"

there's more but it's such a good reminder. thanks for sharing!