Minnesota Municipal
About the Author
Ben spends most of his time working with underprivileged kids in Tijuana, Mexico, encouraging them to continue their education. He's an unofficial member of Iglesia Bautista Monte Horeb, which runs the elementary school, Centro Pedagógico Didaque.
An old pal of mine has a great blog called crux probat omnia. His latest entry, “8 inches or less”, begins by discussing the cosmetic enforcement in his suburban Minnesota neighborhood. The municipal code allows homeowners to have grass no taller than 8 inches. Strict? I don’t know. A bit ridiculous that the local law enforcement is snooping behind the white picket fence, peering down at dandelions? Definitely.
A large part of me, however, longs for those grass-is-greener days. I’ve got a few neighbors that I’d love to see handcuffed after littering in front of my house. I wouldn’t mind seeing a middle-of-the-night police raid at the weekly party next door that blares cumbia or ranchera or English “explicit lyrics” that the partiers don’t even understand. I’ve often dreamt of Singapore-style sentencing for the graffiti artist who expresses his oppressed feelings on the wall I just painted. Wow, what I wouldn’t do for a little Minnesota municipal!
I don’t think I’m alone on this. Many of the missionaries around here voice similar sentiments, albeit with a bit craftier tact. And I’ve recently read journals of missionaries in Africa who are confronting major frustrations with the lack-of-rules reality there.
Todd H., the author of crux probat omnia, took his point in a different direction, discussing the uniformity of the culture; and he goes further, mentioning the church’s responsibility to confront the issue. I wish the church here would step up, but for much more basic reasons. It would be refreshing and encouraging to have my local brothers and sisters combat the anarchy.
I don’t have the answer for Tijuana yet. But just daydreaming of Minnesota municipal brightens my outlook. Thanks, Todd.
August 23rd, 2006 at 10:49 am
Ben, I think you are right on. The church must confront the varying issues it is faced with in each different context if it is truly to be a foretaste and instrument of the kingdom that Jesus preached. Up here, it might mean challenging a superficial distancing that the suburbs bring. But in much of the world, it will mean confronting issues that are much more serious. I would not have a clue of even where to start in TJ! But God bless you and the other believers there as you take on that task. And, on a personal note, congratulations!!