The other day I was handed a column by E.J. Dionne from back in December ("Don't spin the Civil War"). His wise and trenchant words are timely as we ease into the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War & Emancipation.
The more honest we are, the more free we are. And we should settle for nothing less.
We cannot quote him often enough, when Jesus said, "The truth will set you free."
And that truth is a truth, not about battles and leaders of yesteryear, but a truth about today, and a truth about us.
Nearly fifty years since the beginning of the civil rights movement in America, what is the status today of racism, religious freedom, equality for women, gay rights, access for people with disabilities, bullying among kids and more? Tom Brokaw Presents Bridging the Divide dives head first into these complex issues facing the nation's increasingly diverse population, and looks at the impact of the current economy, the rise of technology, social media and the 24-hour news cycle. Brokaw speaks to a wide array of experts to get beyond the salacious headlines and provide a truer and more complete picture of where the country stands.
"Let us pray on this anniversary that his service and sacrifice will be redeemed in the Holy Land and that all of us, wherever we live, whatever our capacity, will do our part to build a world where cooperation triumphs over conflict. Rabin’s spirit continues to light the path, but we must all decide to take it."
Michael Paul Williams' column today reflects on a regrettable distortion of the historical record, which appears in a current textbook used by some of Virginia's fourth graders. Corrective action has been taken by the book's publisher (a sticker). That's certainly a good thing, the corrective action, that is; however, the error itself draws attention to something too large for any sticker to cover, namely, the invaluable importance of sticking to the truth.
As we swing into the Sesqicentennial of the Civil War & Emancipation, this is a lesson worth iterating and reiterating.
He says, "If I didn't have those people back there, I would never have had anything to write about. That's where I got all my stories from. My life is from them."
"My life is from them."
Blessings upon Mr. Gaines, and blessings upon his ancestors.
Amen, amen.
Pictured: Ernest Gaines revisits the Cherie Quarters, where his family lived for generations, near the False River, Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana. Photo by Philip Gould
A recent Michael Paul Williams column tells about a peace festival here in Richmond this coming Sunday. Please consider going, for the sake of peace, and for the sake of humanity's shared future.
Meanwhile, let's also all pray for the peace talks underway in Israel. May God give all involved courage, imagination, and humility; and may there be peace in our time.
Video: "Mike's Take" on Intolerance
The recent anti-Muslim bigotry is a step in the wrong direction and is only producing more hate.
Tomorrow after at 2pm, Wallace+ will join faith leaders from the Richmond area for a press conference at the Islamic Center of Virginia. In today's Word from Grace Street, he explains why they are coming together in solidarity:
Naturally, a range of words will be used to describe
what we are standing up for: Civility. Freedom. Respect. Tolerance. Calm.
Justice. Community. Diversity. Equality. Reconciliation. Welcome. Understanding. Unity. Hope.
While all those words have their rightful place, some
come closer than others to what God wants for us, his children. While "tolerance" is a start, Jesus said
nothing about tolerance, and we won't settle for it. While "civility" is a beginning, we are
called to something higher, better, and braver.
Among those who will speak are: Bishop Charlene Kammerer, Rabbi Martin Beifield, Pastor Charles Baughum, Rabbi Ben Romer, Imam Ammar Amonette, Rev. Jon Barton and others.
In addition to standing together, they will publish a joint statement, which will be posted tomorrow.
I have lately been listening, for, a second time, to The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. I recommend it HIGHLY. While Dr. King did not in fact write an autobiography, Stanford's Clayborne Carson has taken Dr. King's written and spoken words and woven them together into a single and stunning piece. While it is available in paperback, the audio version is my recommendation, with many recordings of Dr. King being incorporated, including his "I Have a Dream Speech," naturally, as well as, for instance, his reading of his Letter from the Birmingham Jail. From the latter, I was especially struck (again) by what he says about the "white moderate," in answer to those who urge patience in the face of injustice.
Thanks be to God for Martin Luther King, Jr., and may God bless us as we carry on the brave and faithful work of his life. Indeed, may God help us to be both brave and faithful.
And, of course, this Christmas, tonight, and tomorrow, new memories are being made; a Carol sung, pure and exquisite; an old friend; warm, endearing words exchanged; a first Christmas for a new grandbaby; a candle lit, a face aglow, eyes agleam.
More than fifty times, in his published writings, Barth refers to the Grunewald image; and, indeed, usually, it is precisely in reference to John, and John’s relation to the figure of Christ; as he points.
Barth (and Grunewald before him) understood John’s sole purpose to be to serve as a pointer to Christ, a reference to Christ, a witness to Christ.
On any given day, there are those things that would get our attention; those things that would bring fresh perspective; those things would remind us of what is most important, what is most true. If, that is, if we but notice. We never know when those things, those experiences, those people might come. And so it has always been, so it has always been.
The Rule of 72, they call it. It’s a rule of thumb to figure how long it’ll take to double your money. If you know you can get 5%, on your investment, then you divide 5 into 72 and that tells you: it’ll take roughly 14 and ½ years to double your money. That’s the Rule of 72. Now, sometimes an investor doesn’t want to wait 14 and a ½ years, or however long the Rule of 72 tells you that you have to wait and so increased risks are taken. And sometimes you win, and sometimes you loose.
We all want, in the words of St. Paul, to “lead a life worthy of God.” A life worthy of God. Un-like the lives of the false prophets, of Micah’s day, or the false teachers of Jesus’ day, the scribes and the Pharisees, teachers of the law. Their lives are un-worthy of God, we are told, in no uncertain terms. In their hypocrisy, they serve, not God, not God’s people, but themselves.
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I had the privilege of hearing 
I commend to you a story from the 
Tomorrow after at 2pm, Wallace+ will join faith leaders from the Richmond area for a press conference at the Islamic Center of Virginia. In 
I have lately been listening, for, a second time, to 