JOHN LEWIS

House Democrats led by Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) occupied floor of chamber demanding vote on gun control in June 2016. (Thanks Peter for the picture.)

From Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change by John Lewis:

"Anchor the eternity of love in your own soul and embed this planet with goodness. Lean toward the whispers of your own heart, discover the universal truth, and follow its dictates. Release the need to hate, to harbor division, and the enticement of revenge. Release all bitterness. Hold only love, only peace in your heart, knowing that the battle of good to overcome evil is already won. Choose confrontation wisely, but when it is your time don’t be afraid to stand up, speak up, and speak out against injustice. And if you follow your truth down the road to peace and the affirmation of love, if you shine like a beacon for all to see, then the poetry of all the great dreamers and philosophers is yours to manifest in a nation, a world community, and a Beloved Community that is finally at peace with itself."
...
“The most important lesson I have learned in the fifty years I have spent working toward the building of a better world is that the true work of social transformation starts within. It begins inside your own heart and mind, because the battleground of human transformation is really, more than any other thing, the struggle within the human consciousness to believe and accept what is true. Thus to truly revolutionize our society, we must first revolutionize ourselves. We must be the change we seek if we are to effectively demand transformation from others.”

Despite more than forty arrests, physical attacks, and serious injuries, John Lewis remained a devoted advocate of the philosophy of nonviolence.

Click on yellow link to listen to John Lewis speak about his work and our work.

Lay Down the Burden of Bitterness

FORGIVENESS

Wikipedia
Oldest depiction of St Francis
Benedictine abbey of Subiaco
1228-9

This is a followup to the post GRATITUDE which focused on St Francis' response to the awareness of God's gifts.

A friend wrote:

I was led to reflect on St Francis and forgiveness and found the story below.

Italics are my addition.

"One day Francis met an acquaintance of his who looked troubled, and he asked him: 'Brother, how are things with you?' The man immediately began to rant against his master, saying, 'Thanks to my master — May God curse him! — I have had nothing but misfortune. He has taken away all that I possess.'

Francis was filled with pity for the man, and said, 'Brother, pardon your master for the love of God, and free your own soul; it's possible that he will restore to you whatever he has taken away. Otherwise, you have lost your goods and will lose your soul as well.'

But the man said, 'I can't fully forgive him unless he returns what he has taken from me.' Francis answered, 'Look, I will give you this cloak; I beg you to forgive your master for the love of the Lord God.' The man's heart was melted by this kindness, and he forgave his master. Immediately, he was filled with joy."

"St. Francis was truly a man of forgiveness, a peacemaker who became a channel of God's grace to others. We can become like St. Francis. When we pray for those who have offended us, it frees us to love as God loves. God's grace has power not only to change us, but those who have done us injury as well."

---

 The gratitude and forgiveness which Francis taught are expressed in Gainesville through the St. Francis House for the hungry and homeless.

St. Francis House

"The St. Francis House homeless shelter and soup kitchen in Gainesville, Florida provides emergency food, temporary shelter, and related support services in a safe, secure environment for people in Alachua County who, for whatever reason, find themselves homeless and hungry.  Our staff and volunteers introduce guests to many community resources available to resolve problems underlying their crisis. St. Francis House provides these services in a supportive environment where people can begin to manage their problems effectively and re-establish themselves as productive members of the community." 

.

GRATITUDE

St. Francis at St. Augustine

Luke - 6:27-36
Phillips Translation

"But I say to all of you who will listen to me: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who treat you badly.
"As for the man who hits you on one cheek, offer him the other one as well! And if a man is taking away your coat, do not stop him from taking your shirt as well. Give to everyone who asks you, and when a man has taken what belongs to you, don't demand it back.

"Treat men exactly as you would like them to treat you. If you love only those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that, And if you lend only to those from whom you hope to get your money back, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners and expect to get their money back. No, you are to love your enemies and do good and lend without hope of return. Your reward will be wonderful and you will be sons of the most high. For he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked!

"You must be merciful, as your father in Heaven is merciful."
 
Teachings of Francis of Assisi from Wikipedia:

He preached: "Your God is of your flesh, He lives in your nearest neighbor, in every man."

He and his followers celebrated and even venerated poverty, which was so central to his character that in his last written work, the Testament, he said that absolute personal and corporate poverty was the essential lifestyle for the members of his order.
 
He believed that nature itself was the mirror of God. He called all creatures his "brothers" and "sisters", and even preached to the birds and supposedly persuaded a wolf in Gubbio to stop attacking some locals if they agreed to feed the wolf. In his Canticle of the Creatures ("Praises of Creatures" or "Canticle of the Sun"), he mentioned the "Brother Sun" and "Sister Moon", the wind and water. His deep sense of brotherhood under God embraced others, and he declared that "he considered himself no friend of Christ if he did not cherish those for whom Christ died". 

^{All Creatures of Our God and King}

Francis of Assisi's Canticle of the Sun was translated and made into a poem by William Draper. It was published as a hymn in 1919. You will find it on Page 2 of Worship in Song: A Friends Hymnal.

All creatures of our God and king
Lift up your voice and with us sing,
O priase ye! Alleluia!
Thou brother sun with golden beam,
Thou sister moon with silver gleam!
Refrain:
O praise ye! O praise ye!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

O brother wind, air, clouds, and rain,
by which all creatures ye sustain,
O praise ye! Alleluia!
Thou rising moon, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!
Refrain

O sister water, flowing clear,
Make music for thy Lord to hear,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
O brother fire who lights the night,
providing warmth, enhancing sight,
Refrain

Dear mother earth, who day by day
Unfoldest blessings on our way,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
The flowers and fruits that in thee grow,
Let them His glory also show.
Refrain

All ye who are of tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part,
O praise ye! Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care!
Refrain

The life of Francis of Assisi was made into the movie Brother Sun Sister Moon in 1972. The trailer can be viewed here.

BLACK NATIONAL ANTHEM

Aspirations
Aaron Douglas 
Illustrator for God's Trombones

Lift Every Voice and Sing performed by Stanford Talisman Alumni Virtual Choir

Historical Notes from Worship in Song: A Friends Hymnal

"This stirring hymn, the official song of the NAACP, is widely known as the 'Black National Anthem.' It was written by James Weldon Johnson, National Secretary of the NAACP for 14 years. Earlier he had been US Consul in Venezuela and Nicaragua. He was best known as an African-American poet, writer of God's Trombones, a collections of sermons in verse. The tune was written by his younger brother J. Rosamond Johnson."  

TEMPEST WITHOUT

Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Great Wave off the Coast of Kanagawa

Hokusai 

1831

The contrast between the peace which may be experienced within and the tumult which rages without is dramatic. There will be fires, storms, and disease in the world which cannot be quelled. They bring harm in the outer material world. The inner spiritual world can maintain calm and peace in spite of the tempest raging about us.

Isaiah 30
[29] Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel.
[30] And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.

Master the Tempest is Raging

Click on yellow link to listen.

Matthew 8
[23] And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
[24] And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
[25] And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
[26] And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
[27] But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

*****

Colossians 3
[15] And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
[16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

.

PEACE WITHIN

William Blake
Song of Los
Frontispiece
1795

 Here is a quote from the website of Susan J. 

"In looking at the world around, we may be apt to think that the day is very far off when the Lord's Kingdom shall be established in peace: but to those who, through the regenerating power of Christ, have become subjects of the Prince of Peace, that day has commenced already; and whatever storms may rage without, they will experience peace within." (John Yeardley, 19th century Friend)

.

GENTLE WAYS

Sketch by Dick

Cat and Nate

 

Thanks to Dick for sharing the message at Meeting for Worship last First Day, and for sharing the image many years ago. (Nate is 16 now.)