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As I marched across America last month to raise $25 million to support community programs that address some of the most pressing challenges our country faces, I traveled through some desolate places — forgotten corners of the country.
Which is why it felt like a revelation when I walked into Lancaster Central Market. The air was heavy with the smell of roasted coffee and fresh Pennsylvania Dutch pastries. I saw Amish farmers in plain clothes selling their goods. Next to them, Latino families grind masa to make handmade tortillas. I also smelled the scent of spices from the boxes sold by refugees who shared stories about how those spices were used in their home countries. I knew I looked out of place, sweaty and dusty after hiking 12 miles with my crew, but we were immediately made to feel at home by the people there.
This was not a theatrical scene. This was the real America, a vivid picture of the nation at its best. What I saw at that market — people of all beliefs, politics, religions, races, and cultures coming together to share kind words, foods, and goods — was a vivid sermon about the unity that our divided nation needs to hear.
As the addicts in Philadelphia bowed to the trunk, I saw why God had not given up on America yet
This market, located in the heart of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, isn’t just a place to shop — it’s a time capsule of the American dream that traces its roots back to 1730. At that time, Andrew Hamilton laid out this town amid rolling farmland and plotted a plot of land in Pennsylvania Square for a public market.
It was chartered by King George II in 1742, and by 1757, a sturdy brick building of 20,000 square feet had been constructed. The market has withstood wars, depressions, and countless changes. It is the oldest continuously operating farmers market in America, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
If America can see itself as such a market — where everyone is doing their best — we will go a long way toward rediscovering what we have lost.
What amazes me is how the market continues to thrive, and how it stays alive. It is amazing to think how many Americans have passed through this place and preserved it, each contributing their share. And you can see that spirit here today. I could go in and judge everyone by their outward appearance.
After all, what do I have in common with an Amish man? It turns out a lot. One of the gentlemen I met was a good basketball player, in his youth, just like me. We both played at powerhouse high schools and competed for state championships. The difference was that he told me he had to challenge his society’s ban on competitive sports. We remembered and formed an unexpected bond.
Without God, the New York dream rings hollow. My walk across America proves that
Here in this market everyone comes together not to argue politics or pass Social mediaBut to share something real. No one checks your voting record or zip code. The most important thing these people share – no matter where they come from – is pride in their products, goods or services. They are craftsmen who take pride in providing their best. This pride is a reflection of who they are.
After returning from church on Sunday, an Amish family walks with their bare feet on a country road in the heart of rural Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, on June 24, 2018. (iStock)
I miss that – that pride. I remember when I was a boy in Tennessee and one of my uncles brought a truck back from the dead. I’ll never forget the smile on his sweaty, grease-smeared face when the engine roared to life. He slapped the steering wheel and shouted: “Atta boy!” We used to be proud of these things, and it became our identity. My uncle became known around town as the wizard who could fix any engine.
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This is the same pride I saw in Lancaster Market. Maybe that’s why I felt at home the moment I entered. These were my people.
As I walked, I thought a lot about America, and I think this market holds a lesson for a torn nation. If America can see itself as such a market — where everyone is doing their best — we will go a long way toward rediscovering what we have lost.
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Our strength does not come from similarity. It doesn’t come from the keyboard wars. Our strength comes from who we are as individuals and what we bring to the table.
That’s why Lancaster Market embodies America, and what the rest of us should aspire to.
Click here to read more from Pastor Corey Brooks