“White tears, white women’s tears, can move a nation. They will move people to mobilize. An Indigenous woman’s tears ain’t gonna move nothing. A Black woman’s tears ain’t gonna move nothing.”
Be present to Jesus and to the events of these days which we remember with the utmost holiness. For in going with Jesus to the cross and to the tomb, you will also then walk with him to the resurrection, wherein you will once again find the joy and hope of new life born, of a future bright with possibilities for life and laughter and joy and love.
My hope and prayer this St. Patrick’s Day is that the day is coming when, like the Irish, we will no longer see our neighbors of different cultures and colors as our enemies – as a plague upon our nation. I pray the day is coming when we might celebrate together, just as all peoples celebrate St. Patrick’s Day together.
The Sacred Ground program taught me to listen and to question and to see oppression from different perspectives. It also showed me some of the ways in which people and communities struggling against oppression and inequality can still strive to accomplish great things. It helped me to see what I can do moving forward.
So many of our Sacred Ground group discussions elicited a common reaction – “Gee, how come I didn’t learn about that in history classes?” Discussing the selected readings and videos openly with other participants consistently brought us new insights.
Sacred Grounds identified one conflict area that bothered me–Taking land and prosperity. In the 1500s there were approximately 70 million Native Americans when the first Spanish immigrants arrived.
Sabbath…a true gift from God. Time to rest, to renew, to restore…time to REcreate. But even God had rested on the last day of creation. Even God knew it was important to do your work and then take time to step back and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Recently, I was asked about the meaning of Ash Wednesday and why it is practiced in our tradition of the faith. It wasn’t the first time I’ve ever been asked that question, and I’m sure it won’t be the last.
In my first call, I performed quite a number of weddings. The couples who came to me were a mixture of older, second-marriage couples and young couples fresh out of college and ready to, “start their lives together.” But in the end, they all had one thing in common…
Friends, WE are a Peace Garden. Right here, right now, at the corner of Lincolnia Rd. and Summit Dr., WE are a garden of peace for this community – a symbol of unity between people of diverse backgrounds.