Diana, I had occasion the last week of July/1st week of August to be in Maryland and Linam Heights for the festival gathering of the network of biblical storytellers. Since I had looked at the website contacted, the artist heard nothing from anyone. I decided to cross over to Cambridge and see the Mural in person.
That’s a story in itself, but the point of this is that I met the artist and talked with him. He had not responded to my email because he didn’t know what I was talking about. He didn’t see a finger extending from the other finger. So we went outside and looked at the Miral and it’s not there. I’ve looked at multiple posters, they have for sale of the same picture. None of them have it, we had a wonderful discussion about it. I wonder if it’s one of those things when God puts something in my path that I will look at and play with and ponder, which is what I’ve been doing.
I did buy a sweatshirt with the picture on it so I’ve got the constant memory of being held in those arms.
I love your writing and what you do thank you for doing it. And I thank God for you. Love you muchly Beverly.
Thank you Diana! In different ways over the past few weeks I have been hearing this message that the way into God's future may be longer than we expected, and we just need to keep using our God given gifts and knowledge and love and grace to try to move into a future that seems to be moving farther away from us. Yet the beatitude of Jesus is still true, "Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth." And meek does not mean weak, timid, or retiring, but is a trait of people who use the power of love, grace, speaking truth (and speaking it in love), doing justice and seeking to live in covenant with everyone (Micah 6:8) and doing it all embracing and carrying the fruit of the Spirit (all of which is soft power) to move into God's future rather than wielding the hard power of domination, fear-mongering, threats, and violence. We may not get to see that future in our lifetimes, but we keep at it trusting that what we do in this time helps make God's dream more real for the generations ahead. Thank you, again!
Your words today are a strength to me. I have a “fight” for justice in our little small town pickle all group where I told the leader that I don’t like his sexist remarks and comments on our bodies and taps on the rear. He then defended himself and kicked me off the group list. Now I’ve talked to other women who were told even worse things. I am so distraught at times when I hear another woman say just ignore him. While others lend me their hand and support. So today I take a breath. With all the whole world having such distress this seems so small. But it’s still worth fighting for to have women respected.
Your words here “ There are things that must be defied. We must never give up, not as long as we are strong and able.
Even when we want to surrender. Even when we feel lost. Even when afraid.
Once in a while, when it seems like there’s no path forward, we’ve got to get our bearings. Regain strength. Take a moment and reorient. Breathe.”
:
That’s what I’ve been doing this week. Thank you Harriet. Thank you Diana. And all the other brave women out there.
Thank you so much for lifting up the example of our spiritual ancestors Harriet and Frederick. I give thanks for their grit and persistence. I give thanks for you. God help us all in these troubling times.
I wanted to sob reading this article. How have we so easily lost our way, our sense of humanity and why are people I know and love falling for this? I just don’t understand. So when a voice of clarity comes it feels like a balm to my aching soul. Thank you so much.
Thank you for your wonderful meditation on fighting and forging bonds and keeping hope alive. You lend me strength at just the right moment. Your books inspire me too
This has become the backbone of my homily this week in my rural/small town parish in SE MN. It is going to get harder and harder to anticipate opening the news each day. What we do for the next months as Christians is extremely important. We have to both stay in the tumult and speak words of hope and peace (how did Harriet do it? Can I?) and we have to find our Quiet Center, which will be our theme hymn for the next months. Thank Diana for your heart and words.
What a beautiful essay, Diana, much like that majestic portrayal of Harriet Tubman! Persistence and hope in the face of adversity is an essential way to fight the good fight.
I'm reading Miroslav Volf's book, Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace. Volf posits that people conduct their lives in 3 basic modes, each mode with a corresponding way we relate to perceived offenders/offenses:
Taking (illicitly) what doesn't belong to us ==> Revenge
Getting (legitimately) what we need/want ==> Demand for justice
Giving (generously) to help/delight others ==> Forgiving
He then compares/contrasts Revenge vs. Justice and Forgiveness vs. Justice. Revenge doesn't say, "An eye for an eye." It says, "You take my eye, and I'll blow out your brains." Wanting to punish the offender, the victim(?) overreacts. Paul (who knew all about vengeful retaliation) preached to the church (Romans 12:14, 17, 19-21) what true followers of Jesus should do; forgive! Since vengeance is immoral, why not demand retributive justice instead? Paul suggests that justice to one person will look like vengeance to another. It's a blurry line. Better for us to rise above the perceived offense and love our enemy (like Jesus told us to do)! I think that is the strength/power of Harriet Tubman's and Frederick Douglass' response to the evil which they were subjected to.
All of this reminded me of The Dignity Index as a better way to respond. Where would I find that multi-colored Poster/Card? Also looking for a list of the "TERRIBLE verses."
I share your emotional disconnect. I have observed your humanity in Conversation webinar, and your upbeat with Tripp Fuller. Please know that my angels are upholding us and many more folks.
RE: and the Serenity Prayer, "courage to change the things I can."
I've several relatives who are AA members, so I've heard and seen this statement--and it's empowering impact of peoples' lives-- often.
Yet I've always felt that it didn't go far enough: I'd add to the prayer ...and the will/courage/strength to continue fighting for the things I can't change."
Today, more than ever, we can't sit back on our laurels (i.e. success) and call the (religious, political, economy, etc.) work that needs doing done.
I keep returning to the words of Madeleine L'Engle in "A Swiftly Tilting Planet," when the unicorn, Gaudior, is talking to Charles Wallace: "Your planet does not deal gently with lovers of peace."
Knowing this, we must still stand. We must reach out. We must remain in courage, knowing fear only destroys. And I think we've had enough destruction.
I share your passion, the passion of many of us who come here to read and comment. My ancestors also came in 1660. I owe a ton of retribution for the 7 generations of plantation enslavers. I can keep working on retribution no matter the political muddle we are in. I can keep elevating the voices of those who are oppressed no matter how the media coverage of Trump and the profound shift in this country's culture troubles me. I come back again and again to the question, "What can I do?" and the Serenity Prayer, "courage to change the things I can." I soothe myself by doing something, anything good within my extensive community here in Boise, ID.
Diana, I had occasion the last week of July/1st week of August to be in Maryland and Linam Heights for the festival gathering of the network of biblical storytellers. Since I had looked at the website contacted, the artist heard nothing from anyone. I decided to cross over to Cambridge and see the Mural in person.
That’s a story in itself, but the point of this is that I met the artist and talked with him. He had not responded to my email because he didn’t know what I was talking about. He didn’t see a finger extending from the other finger. So we went outside and looked at the Miral and it’s not there. I’ve looked at multiple posters, they have for sale of the same picture. None of them have it, we had a wonderful discussion about it. I wonder if it’s one of those things when God puts something in my path that I will look at and play with and ponder, which is what I’ve been doing.
I did buy a sweatshirt with the picture on it so I’ve got the constant memory of being held in those arms.
I love your writing and what you do thank you for doing it. And I thank God for you. Love you muchly Beverly.
The next time I visit my son in Greenbelt, MD, I'm going to try to get him to take us to Cambridge and visit the mural and the museum.
Thank you Diana! In different ways over the past few weeks I have been hearing this message that the way into God's future may be longer than we expected, and we just need to keep using our God given gifts and knowledge and love and grace to try to move into a future that seems to be moving farther away from us. Yet the beatitude of Jesus is still true, "Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth." And meek does not mean weak, timid, or retiring, but is a trait of people who use the power of love, grace, speaking truth (and speaking it in love), doing justice and seeking to live in covenant with everyone (Micah 6:8) and doing it all embracing and carrying the fruit of the Spirit (all of which is soft power) to move into God's future rather than wielding the hard power of domination, fear-mongering, threats, and violence. We may not get to see that future in our lifetimes, but we keep at it trusting that what we do in this time helps make God's dream more real for the generations ahead. Thank you, again!
Thank you, Diana!! I sure would like Kamala Harris to read this as she launches her campaign in defiance of hate and fear and “otherness”!
So moving- I would love a print, cannot find it Available. Have you had any information?
Thank you, thank you thank you for the many ways. She will reach my life and deep my face.
Click on the image website (in the caption below the picture). They may be able to help you.
Your words today are a strength to me. I have a “fight” for justice in our little small town pickle all group where I told the leader that I don’t like his sexist remarks and comments on our bodies and taps on the rear. He then defended himself and kicked me off the group list. Now I’ve talked to other women who were told even worse things. I am so distraught at times when I hear another woman say just ignore him. While others lend me their hand and support. So today I take a breath. With all the whole world having such distress this seems so small. But it’s still worth fighting for to have women respected.
Your words here “ There are things that must be defied. We must never give up, not as long as we are strong and able.
Even when we want to surrender. Even when we feel lost. Even when afraid.
Once in a while, when it seems like there’s no path forward, we’ve got to get our bearings. Regain strength. Take a moment and reorient. Breathe.”
:
That’s what I’ve been doing this week. Thank you Harriet. Thank you Diana. And all the other brave women out there.
Thank you so much for lifting up the example of our spiritual ancestors Harriet and Frederick. I give thanks for their grit and persistence. I give thanks for you. God help us all in these troubling times.
I wanted to sob reading this article. How have we so easily lost our way, our sense of humanity and why are people I know and love falling for this? I just don’t understand. So when a voice of clarity comes it feels like a balm to my aching soul. Thank you so much.
Thank you for your wonderful meditation on fighting and forging bonds and keeping hope alive. You lend me strength at just the right moment. Your books inspire me too
This has become the backbone of my homily this week in my rural/small town parish in SE MN. It is going to get harder and harder to anticipate opening the news each day. What we do for the next months as Christians is extremely important. We have to both stay in the tumult and speak words of hope and peace (how did Harriet do it? Can I?) and we have to find our Quiet Center, which will be our theme hymn for the next months. Thank Diana for your heart and words.
What a beautiful essay, Diana, much like that majestic portrayal of Harriet Tubman! Persistence and hope in the face of adversity is an essential way to fight the good fight.
I'm reading Miroslav Volf's book, Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace. Volf posits that people conduct their lives in 3 basic modes, each mode with a corresponding way we relate to perceived offenders/offenses:
Taking (illicitly) what doesn't belong to us ==> Revenge
Getting (legitimately) what we need/want ==> Demand for justice
Giving (generously) to help/delight others ==> Forgiving
He then compares/contrasts Revenge vs. Justice and Forgiveness vs. Justice. Revenge doesn't say, "An eye for an eye." It says, "You take my eye, and I'll blow out your brains." Wanting to punish the offender, the victim(?) overreacts. Paul (who knew all about vengeful retaliation) preached to the church (Romans 12:14, 17, 19-21) what true followers of Jesus should do; forgive! Since vengeance is immoral, why not demand retributive justice instead? Paul suggests that justice to one person will look like vengeance to another. It's a blurry line. Better for us to rise above the perceived offense and love our enemy (like Jesus told us to do)! I think that is the strength/power of Harriet Tubman's and Frederick Douglass' response to the evil which they were subjected to.
All of this reminded me of The Dignity Index as a better way to respond. Where would I find that multi-colored Poster/Card? Also looking for a list of the "TERRIBLE verses."
Thank you for your Musings and Videos/Podcasts!
Peace.
I share your emotional disconnect. I have observed your humanity in Conversation webinar, and your upbeat with Tripp Fuller. Please know that my angels are upholding us and many more folks.
With God being love we will survive
RE: and the Serenity Prayer, "courage to change the things I can."
I've several relatives who are AA members, so I've heard and seen this statement--and it's empowering impact of peoples' lives-- often.
Yet I've always felt that it didn't go far enough: I'd add to the prayer ...and the will/courage/strength to continue fighting for the things I can't change."
Today, more than ever, we can't sit back on our laurels (i.e. success) and call the (religious, political, economy, etc.) work that needs doing done.
always seen this as
I keep returning to the words of Madeleine L'Engle in "A Swiftly Tilting Planet," when the unicorn, Gaudior, is talking to Charles Wallace: "Your planet does not deal gently with lovers of peace."
Knowing this, we must still stand. We must reach out. We must remain in courage, knowing fear only destroys. And I think we've had enough destruction.
I share your passion, the passion of many of us who come here to read and comment. My ancestors also came in 1660. I owe a ton of retribution for the 7 generations of plantation enslavers. I can keep working on retribution no matter the political muddle we are in. I can keep elevating the voices of those who are oppressed no matter how the media coverage of Trump and the profound shift in this country's culture troubles me. I come back again and again to the question, "What can I do?" and the Serenity Prayer, "courage to change the things I can." I soothe myself by doing something, anything good within my extensive community here in Boise, ID.