Among Richmond’s ghosts, I discovered grace — and a deeper faith in freedom

The prima beats down arsenic I locomotion the Richmond Slave Trail successful Virginia. I've been walking crossed America, raising funds and consciousness for Project H.O.O.D. to physique opportunities successful Chicago's forgotten neighborhoods. But today, successful the erstwhile superior of the Confederacy, this locomotion feels different. As I hint the way wherever enslaved Africans were marched successful chains toward auctions and anguish, I consciousness that I americium walking with ghosts and grace, and I person been reasoning astir God much profoundly and intensely.

Richmond is simply a metropolis of ironic and humanities conflicts. Once the heartbeat of division, wherever the Confederacy plotted to sphere slavery, I present locomotion its streets, a Black pastor from the South Side of Chicago marching for unity and hope. My locomotion isn't astir erasing the past — it’s astir moving connected from it, 1 prayerful measurement astatine a time.

The Slave Trail winds on the James River, past the tons wherever enslaved pens erstwhile stood, done areas wherever quality beings were bought and sold similar cattle. Those enslaved ancestors didn't take their march; it was forced upon them successful robust shackles. My locomotion is voluntary, but it's nary little a conflict against modern chains: poverty, authorities dependency, violence, and hopelessness.

As Galatians 5:1 declares, "It is for state that Christ has acceptable america free." The archetypal state conflict was carnal slavery; today's is spiritual, economical and acquisition bondage. Project H.O.O.D. is portion of that modern emancipation from devastating wide policies – breaking cycles truthful our children locomotion toward opportunity.

WITHOUT GOD, NEW YORK'S DREAM TURNS HOLLOW. MY WALK ACROSS AMERICA PROVES IT

Scripture has been my changeless companion connected this road, turning miles into meditation. Like Abraham successful Genesis 12:1-4, God told him, "Go from your country, your radical and your father’s household to the onshore I volition amusement you." Sometimes, walking successful religion means trusting God with the adjacent mile, not the full map. I stepped retired from Chicago without knowing each detail, believing religion would uncover the path. Every blister, each mile, is religion successful motion.

Scripture has been my changeless companion connected this road, turning miles into meditation. (iStock)

Then there's Joshua astatine Jericho (Joshua 6:1-20). God commanded him to march astir the metropolis for 7 days, and connected the seventh, the walls collapsed. Joshua’s locomotion wasn’t astir distance, but astir obedience and endurance. Some walls don’t autumn by shouting – they autumn by dependable steps of faith. Here successful Richmond, I deliberation of those enslaved radical who trudged these trails successful silence, enduring for a state they mightiness ne'er see. They yearned for state successful a mode that should shame those successful my Chicago vicinity who are escaped and yet take not to exploit this acquisition fully.

AS I WALK ACROSS AMERICA, THOMAS SOWELL’S WARNING STILL ECHOES TODAY

On the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35), the disciples walked successful disorder aft the crucifixion until "Jesus himself came up and walked on with them." I started this locomotion to rise money, but on the way, I’ve been raising religion – due to the fact that I support gathering Christ connected the road. In strangers' smiles, successful locals sharing stories of Richmond's progress, Jesus joins me. One aged woman, a granddaughter of slaves, walked a artifact with me. "You're walking for america all," she said. In that moment, the travel revealed Him.

Paul’s missionary journeys (Acts 13-21) punctual maine that this is simply a calling. "And truthful we excessively person been called to bring this bully quality to others" (Acts 13:47). Paul walked done persecution to works hope. I’m walking done my weakness to physique opportunities. The roadworthy was unsmooth for him – shipwrecks, beatings – but divine. But similar Psalm 23:4, "Even though I locomotion done the vale of the shadiness of death, I volition fearfulness nary evil, for you are with me." I’ve walked done shadows and silence, but ne'er alone. God's rod and unit – His beingness – dependable maine with each step.

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Hebrews 12:1-2 urges, "Let america tally with perseverance the contention marked retired for us, fixing our eyes connected Jesus." Though it says "run," the tone is endurance. I’m not racing for records – I’m walking for redemption. The crushed beneath Richmond remembers some bondage and state – and it calls this procreation to take which dependable we’ll follow.

The way done Richmond is the roadworthy to revival. (iStock)

The way done Richmond is the roadworthy to revival. As 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my radical who are called by my name…" volition humble themselves and pray. If Richmond tin alteration – from auction blocks to avenues of state – truthful tin America’s struggling neighborhoods. But revival starts 1 step, 1 prayer, 1 bosom astatine a time.

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As I permission the Slave Trail, my legs are weary, but my tone is soaring. The slaves who marched present didn’t conscionable endure — they prophesied. Their unbroken religion declared that 1 time their children’s children would locomotion these aforesaid streets successful freedom, trading robust chains for opportunity. 

I locomotion with them, for them, and for each kid successful Chicago who deserves the accidental to observe their intent successful life. After all, state begins erstwhile a intent is born.

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