Tag Archives: justice

July 3, 2011 · 3:39 am

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.

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June 27, 2011 · 2:10 am

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

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June 24, 2011 · 1:40 am

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.

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June 23, 2011 · 12:36 am

A prayer for Sudan

I usually keep my work and personal blogs separate.
But the situation in Sudan weighs on me. So I offer a prayer – a prayer I wrote for a call to prayer issued by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.):
Come Holy Spirit, come to the people of Sudan.
Come Holy Spirit, break the hold of violence.
Come Holy Spirit, draw the people together.
Come Holy Spirit, lead the people in paths of peace.
Come Holy Spirit, guide the people to establish justice.
Come Holy Spirit, come to the people of Sudan. 
By God’s grace, may it be so. Amen.

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June 13, 2011 · 3:01 am

Not alone

Not alone, we stand together,
for alone one could not stand.
Not alone, we stand together,
soul to soul and hand in hand.
Not alone,  we stand together,
aching hearts, but spirits strong.
Not alone, we stand together,
watching, waiting, working,
when others turn away;
seeing, hearing, feeling,
what others would avoid.
Not alone, we stand together,
facing suffering, sharing pain,
seeking justice, pursuing peace.
Not alone, we stand together,
wounded,
surely wounded,
sorely wounded,
still we stand.
Not alone, we stand together,
armed with faith
and armed with laughter,
hope and weeping,
dreams and love.
Not alone we stand together,
for alone we could not stand.

26 July 2001
Colorado National Monument, Fruita, CO and Orem, UT
with thanks to Diana Cheifetz

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June 6, 2011 · 6:12 pm

Jump


“Jump,” he said.

His khakis neatly pressed,
the white man held the copper coin
just above the outstretched fingers
of the small black child
whose ragged jeans flapped in the breeze
as he vainly sought
to reach the treasure.
“Jump.”
“Jump,” they say.
Suffocating in affluence,
they hold up meager morsels –
paltry offerings, contingent upon their whims –
to sisters and brothers in need,
forcing them into games they do not understand
to obtain the pittance
which may allow them to survive.
“Jump.”
“Jump,” we say.
The rich, the powerful, the strong:
unwilling to challenge the status quo
seeking not justice
which recognizes relatedness
and brings enlivening co-equality
but offering only the charity
which demeans, denies, degrades.
“Jump”

8 September – 10 September, 2001

 Pinetown, South Africa and Louisville


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May 26, 2011 · 3:37 am

And in the end

And in the end
God gives a song.
When death has come,
and pain aches deep,
it’s all we have,
it is enough.
For in the end,
God gives a song.

And in the end,
God gives us hope.
When all seems lost,
despair runs high,
it’s all we have,
it is enough,
For in the end,
God gives us hope.

And in the end,
God gives us love,
when hate reigns strong,
when fear looms large,
it’s all we have,
it is enough.
For in the end,
God gives us love.

And in the end,
God gives justice.
When systems wound,
exclude, exploit,
it’s all we have,
it is enough.
For in the end,
God gives justice.

And in the end,
God gives us peace,
when wars rage hot,
violence strikes,
it’s all we have,
it is enough.
For in the end,
God gives us peace.

And in the end,
God gives us Christ,
when all is done,
and all is said,
Christ’s all we have,
Christ is enough.
Give thanks to God,
God gives us Christ.

25 May 2011
Jet Blue 868
KIN – JFK

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May 1, 2011 · 2:07 am

Manifestacion

They are scattered across the city, the Permanent Missions of the member states to the United Nations. I am still learning where they are.

Yesterday when my friend David Bowie and I left the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations we heard the chants of a demonstration. As we made our way up 44th Street toward Grand Central, the sound became louder. At the corner of 2nd Avenue, we saw the people – Syrians.

Men and women, old and young, under flying flags they called for justice and peace for their country.

From their courage and faith, hope leached into my heart as we stood and watched for a few moments. I waved and gave the peace sign as we passed by.

This evening David asked why the group had gathered there. Who did they hope to influence? Groups who come to the UN often do so on 1st Avenue – Ralph Bunche Park is a common location. We wondered if maybe they could not get a permit.

And then I looked up the address for the Permanent Mission of Syria. Sure enough – 820 Second Avenue – between 43rd and 44th – right across the street from where the crowd had gathered to make their witness. The people’s witness touched me; may their witness and the witness of their sisters and brothers in Syria touch their country’s leaders. May peace and justice prevail for Syria and for all peoples.

See you along the Trail.

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April 18, 2011 · 3:31 am

Did Micah know?

Micah, did you know –

in order to
love kindness,
do justice,
walk humbly with God,

we have to
face evil unspeakable,
confront horror unfathomable,
carry pain unbearable?

18 April 2011
Shire on the Hudson

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