On that cusp between sleep and waking
I hang suspended and wonder
what is real
what is remembered
what is dream
Cusp
Filed under Poem
Oops
In all the chaos of disengaging from Big Tent Two, I forgot that today is not a vacation day – it is a holiday. I have to revise my entire plan for approaching the day.
While I do that, let me say:
- Happy Birthday to my sister, to Vince, and all those who share this day!
- Thanks to all those who have served and sacrificed in so many different ways to help my country do justice, seek peace, and be the best in can be.
- Thanks to all who serve today – in whatever ways.
- Thanks to all who love my country enough to remember its misdeeds and sins – and to help us make restitution and reparation so we can move into the future.
See you along the Trail.
What passes for vacation
The Trail led to Denver today – after some last meetings in Indianapolis.
We arrived about 8:30 Denver time tonight – in time to see a beautiful sliver moon hanging in an sky turning from blue to darkness while the clouds over the Rockies glowed red in the sunset. By the time we made it to the rental car lot, the moment had passed so it will remain a memory rather than an image preserved in pixels.
What passes for vacation in my life begins tomorrow. We drove from Denver to Colorado Springs. The next few days will see wandering in this area; then the Trail turns north – to see Sue, whose husband Steve just died. A couple days at Rocky Mountain National Park follow. The memorial service for Steve takes place on Saturday. Then we head south to Ghost Ranch, then back to Denver and to Manhattan.
General plans are in place. The specifics will be chosen each day – or maybe the day before – and at least some of them will be reported here in words and images.
See you along the Trail.
Filed under Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Travel
Saints of the Public Life
During today’s workshop on living our faith in the public life, participants were invited to name the saints who have gone before us – those who have witnessed in public life in a variety of names. After we had the page filled with names, facilitator Ryan reminded us that behind all those we named were many people whose lives they had touched – people who had also faithfully witnessed in the public life.
In the conversation that followed, Sam and Claire observed that the people we named were well known. They also observed that there are many, many, many other Saints of the Public Life: people who each day work in the public life for peace and justice faithfully, carefully, passionately, and constantly. They do so known only to a few – those who work with them, those who love them.
Tonight, I was reminded of one such saint – I remember and give thanks for Steve Brown.
We knew it was coming.
We had been warned – a number of times.
Yet still, the news, the final news, coming tonight, carried surprising force.
We met over thirty years ago.
Tricia, Sue, and I were students.
Steve a trailing spouse.
We played tennis. We laughed.
Steve was a patient, gentle, creative man.
He also had a deep commitment to peace and justice, a commitment he lived in many, many ways on issues ranging from nuclear disarmament to ending war to just immigration to access to health care – on the list could go. .
Steve, and Sue, put themselves into the struggle for full inclusion of GLBTQ people in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
For a number of years, Steve has faced illness.
Sometimes he seemed to gain – there were periods of remission.
But the struggle continued.
From time to time, the reports came – the illness was getting worse.
When his presbytery voted on the most recent initiative to include our GLBTQ sisters and brothers fully in the church, Steve made the effort to be there – his commitment to justice transcending his illness.
He voted, again, for inclusion. His presbytery did the same.
Tricia and I leave for Colorado tomorrow.
Our plans included a visit to see Steve and Sue.
A few days ago, we heard that the end was drawing near. We began to reconsider those plans – to perhaps go to Greeley sooner than we had intended.
Late last night (OK – early this morning – I don’t sleep much) – we heard more news: the end might come before our arrival.
We called Sue a couple hours ago – so we would know how to finalize our plans – and we heard the news – Steve died this morning.
I give thanks for Steve’s life and witness; I give thanks that his pain has ended; but the world seems a little bit less bright and my heart aches for Sue – we will figure out how to see her as she walks this shadowed valley.
See you along the Trail.
Filed under Photo, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Of large tents
I have been offline a lately since I have been under the Presbyterian Church’s Big Tent in Indianapolis A pretty good time was had. Lots of good folk seen. Tomorrow brings vacation – travel to Colorado – then to Ghost Ranch.
Filed under Photo
Remembered again, for the first time
The lilt of uilleann pipes
fills my soul
while memories of
green fields never seen,
gentle rains never felt,
and cobblestone streets never walked,
haunt my heart.
27 June 2011
Shire on the Hudson
Filed under Poem
Step on
Step by step, we march toward peace,
step by step, the march goes on.
No one steps every step;
each one steps but some.
We may not reach the journey’s end,
but without our steps,
however few, however small,
no one ever will.
Step on.
Step on.
Act by act, justice is done,
act by act, justice does grow.
No one takes every act;
each one takes but some.
We may not see full justice done,
but without our acts,
however few, however small,
no one ever will.
Act on.
Act on.
Note by note, we play our part,
note by note, the song goes on.
No one plays every note;
each one plays but some.
We may not hear the last coda,
but without our notes,
however many, however few,
no one ever will.
Play on.
Play on.
27 June 2011
Shire on the Hudson
Filed under Poem
Timing 1.0
I’ve got to work on my timing.
While cruising through the basement after a successful hunting and gathering outing to the local grocery store, I discovered to my deep dismay that I had missed a huge apartment sale.
And only a few weeks ago, I failed to add to my ginormous flea collection when I missed a sale.
Of course buying a huge apartment would, in all likelihood, only result in my creation of a huge(er) than usual mess (mess inevitably expanding to fill the available space). That would not be good. And, should I think things through, remembering that would lead me to put down the huge apartment and walk away. But it would be nice to have the chance to ponder the possibility.
I need to increase my monitoring of the basement signs.
See you along the Trail.
Filed under New York
Peacemaking, justice seeking movie clips
A friend posed the question, knowing that I watch more than my share of movies.
“Can you think of any film clips where a character makes the decision to be a peacemaker – or to do the just thing in a situation of conflict or injustice.?”
Given the context of the question and the person asking the question, the clip needs to be rooted in nonviolence – at least as far as possible.
Honesty compels me to confess that the nonviolent lens eliminates many of my favorite movies and scenes. (The scene in The Wild Bunch where Bishop, Engstrom, and the Gorch brothers decide to go back for Angel, wouldn’t work.)
But I gave it a go. Here are the first two that came to mind:
The Grapes of Wrath: Tom Joad leaves and tells his mother that he will be with her and the family wherever people work for justice.
Hotel Rwanda: Paul Rusesabagina and his staff find rooms for all those who make it to the hotel; Rusesabagina encourages the people at the hotel to call people abroad; the final line: “There’s always room.”
After that movies came to mind – scenes tumbled together; clips piling up. Among them: Norma Rae, Amazing Grace, The Vernon Johns Story, Amazing Grace, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, Coach Carter, Edge of America, Field of Dreams, Milk, Cry Freedom, Gandhi, Made in Dagenham, Malcolm X, Real Women Have Curves, The Milagro Bean Field War, Gandhi. I would have to watch these anew to identify particular scenes.
Recognizing my limits, I ask:
What film clips show a character deciding to seek peace or do justice in a situation of conflict or injustice?
What films would you watch again to find clips that show a character deciding to seek peace or do justice in a situation of conflict or injustice?
I look forward to your responses.
See you along the Trail.
Filed under Movie
Circumstances
I wish
that we had met
under different circumstances.
Of course it is
the circumstances we face
that shape us, mold us, make us who we are.
Under different circumstances
we would be different people,
and maybe the different you
would not want to know the different me;
maybe the different me
would not want to know the different you.
Or maybe we would.
Since we will never know,
perhaps we would do better
to enjoy what is
than to wish for what we do not know
and will never be.
22 June 2011
Shire on the Hudson
Filed under Poem
