Women's March, Boston Common 1-21-17 |
From our baptismal service:
Celebrant | Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself? |
People | I will, with God's help. |
Celebrant | Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being? |
People | I will, with God's help. |
-- Book of Common Prayer p. 305 (or http://www.bcponline.org/)
This looks different over time - indeed, day by day. This year brings me a new way of living it out.
I made a few hats, too. (None of these, though.) |
When was I last in a march, I wonder?
I recall a candlelight vigil with the sisters in 2003 in hopes of staving off another invasion of Iraq.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1 |
I recall a demonstration against apartheid when I was in college. I skipped psych class (and I wasn't a class skipper) to stand with others near the shanty town built next to the Beinecke Library. We were so excited when Archbishop Desmond Tutu sent us a word! I found some old pictures online, as a matter of fact, and am grateful to the alum who shared them:
I recall a Take Back the Night march in Ann Arbor, MI a year or two earlier. Looked online and found that the organization still exists (http://tbtnannarbor.org/). As a signboard I read this weekend phrased it, "I can't believe I'm still protesting this ----." OK, I can believe it. I just wish I couldn't.
Mostly, however, I've written and called my representatives, signed petitions, and learned - too slowly - to speak up instead of smoothing things over that really needed not to be smoothed over at all.
Sometimes you need to make noise. Boston Public Garden 1-21-17 |
I wonder if that is changing.
Yes. Yes, it is. Let's make it better. Boston Common 1-21-17 |
What will this year bring?
more of this? more than this, certainly |
Yes, we can. Together. All of us. |
Snowflakes, unite! |
If I am going to live the promises I made in my baptism alongside my community's historical concern for women and children, it seems to me that more may be required in the days ahead.
I might note that there were quite a few concerns expressed Saturday, climate change among them. I am beginning to learn more about that, too.
Talk about something that will affect us all, or at least anyone who is going to live a while longer. I plan to.
Marching. Praying. Writing. Calling. Networking. Listening. More listening. Reading. More praying. Work I can't yet envision. Prayer that is listening and listening that is prayer moving into action.
I will, with God's help.
Join me?
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