One thing I am seeing lately is that former activists and political people I talk to are tired of the fighting. I mean 1970s activists, people who protested the war during the Bush years, folks who fought so hard for so long. They are tired. They are brought to tears in a book reading when the writer (my teacher, Brenda Peterson) encourages them to find common ground. They introduce themselves to me as former peace activists who don’t want to be activists anymore; they want to join something. They want to look up and see people of faith reaching out a hand.
My husband and I have been talking about this for a while. We both are very aware that these activists started the fight to begin with. And yes, politics will always be about a fight, but there’s something on the move in early 2010. Perhaps it’s because of age (most of these folks are Baby Boomers), perhaps it’s because of dissolution (2009 wasn’t exactly a gold star year for anyone in politics), perhaps it’s because of Haiti (people are very aware of the frailty of life). I don’t know exactly, but I see a former very activist community seeking resolution and common ground.
And I see the other side wanting to keep up the fight. Keep mowing ‘em down. Keep the dogmatic “our way or the highway” rhetoric. I don’t mean it’s wrong. I don’t mean that we must stop the political work.
I think we need to take a look at our political work in light of our soul work. Are we going to save America’s politics and lose America’s souls? Are we going to be staunchly pro-life and forget that the unwed mother is only thinking about her life at that moment? Are we going to quit pushing our way onto everyone we meet? Are we going to reach out a hand to a former “enemy” so that we can work together?
Just questions I have as I feature a song that represents true freedom for me from religion. It’s just one step from religion to relationship. I’ll be making that one step many times during my life. I really like to make my life all about about religion; it’s much easier, safer, trendier, probably more secure too. Oh, but a relationship is so much more worth it.
Cindy Morgan, “Make Us One” from the Exodus album
Children below
Fresh from the foe
Hands ‘neath the moonlight
Lord please make us one
We hear the tide
Roll through the night
Come lead the weary
Lord please make us one
Children rejoice
Come to the voice
Song of the angels
Healing the broken ones
Seasons of rain
Battles unwon
Lead to the fountain
Wash and make us one
All hearts rejoice
With mighty voice
Make us a rainbow
Lord please make us one
Light in the sky
Breath of our life
Unite the rainbow
Lord please make us one
Make us a rainbow
Lord please make us one
{ 2 comments }
LOVE this post, Trish. The song that comes to mind for me today is “The Invisible Choir” from Kris Delmhorst’s “Strange Conversation” CD. I especially love these 2 lines, which I preface with I want to… “be the balm to someone’s sadness, the song for someone’s gladness, a cup of strength to someone in their fight.” This is what I want to be, not only in my writing, but in my personal relationships.
Invisible Choir
lyrics adapted from: George Eliot, “The Choir Invisible”
Oh may I join that invisible choir
I want to join that invisible choir
Made of those sweet immortal voices
That lift our hearts up higher
I want to live after I die
I want to live after I die
I want to make a bit of beauty
And leave a little light behind
Or be the balm to someone’s sadness, the song for someone’s gladness,
A cup of strength to someone in their fight
Or maybe sweeten an existence, inspire a persistence,
Or breathe the breath that makes the spark of love burn bright
Oh may I reach the heaven most high
I want to reach that heaven most high
And be a little star a shining
In someone’s darkest night
Susan,
Wonderful lyrics. I will go find that song right now. Thanks for sharing!
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