We remember them.

My friend Jenny posted this refrain from a Seattle Cancer Care Service of Remembrance that she attended. I'm re-posting it here since it glows for me just like the electromagnetic field pictured above.


In the rising of the sun and in its going down, 
we remember them.
In the blowing of the wind, and the calm of its stillness, 
we remember them.


In the opening of buds and in the rebirth of spring, 
we remember them.
In the blueness of the sky and in the warmth of summer, 
we remember them.


In the rustling of leaves and in the beauty of autumn, 
we remember them.
In the midpoint of the year, and at its beginning and end, 
we remember them.


When we are weary and in need of strength, 
we remember them.
When we are lost and sick at heart, 
we remember them.


When we have joys we yearn to share, 
we remember them.
So long as we live, they too shall live, 
for they are now part of us, 
we remember them.

-- Litany of Remembrance by Roland B. Gittelsohn

The season speaks

Green Lake Park, April 9th

 From Emily Dickinson:
 
"A light exists in spring
Not present on the year
At any other period.
When March is scarcely here
A color stands abroad
On solitary hills
That science cannot overtake,
But human nature feels. "

Swansons Nursery, April 7th

Easter decoration

First lilac, April 12th

Last to bloom, April 12th

"...not by force or violence, but by gentle, faithful persistence to bring forth justice on the earth."

 

The verse is from Isaiah, and it speaks to me.  It's Maundy Thursday, reminding us that even the least of us is our brother.


I've spent several weeks thinking about the meanness that has started to pervade much of our culture and discourse. Almost every shooter or suicide victim of late -- except for George Zimmerman -- has told us how poorly he/she was treated by peers.  If it's not Facebook slurs, then it's impolite and angry epithets hurled at people who look and sound different than us. We see such meanness even in our political leaders in the midst of a fierce rhetorical firestorm.


Wisdom tells us that anger is the other face of fear.  What are we so afraid of?  Why do we find it necessary to classify some people as inferior?  Why so much bitterness and fearfulness?  How can we stop poisoning our environment? 


To me, difference and diversity has always reflected the best lessons of religion.   Love your neighbor.  Be your brother's keeper.  Put yourself in another's shoes.  Rather than draw a line in the sand, step over the line.

I'm not out washing anyone's feet or handing out bags of coin today, but I am thinking during these final days of Lent just how we might improve the discourse and the environment in which most of us move..."and by gentle, faithful persistence...bring forth justice on the earth."