Streams of Mercy
Last week I heard it said in one of the sessions of our virtual General Assembly that “the church must be a faithful steward of the gifts of these days.” Are there gifts really, in this delicate dance among our past, present and future life as a nation? Are there gifts to be received in this time of reckoning and reforming, and reframing and reconciling?
I’ve said many times in recent months that I wish things could be like they used to be, but I don’t say that any more. I don’t want things to be like they used to be; I want them to be better. I want more for all of God’s children; I want to be better and I want to be more; I want America to be better and to be more. I want America to find true greatness, not again, but perhaps for the very first time, as we face the many ways we’ve failed to live up to our creed, and all the ways we’ve failed to be who we say we are.
Instead of being out celebrating the 4th of July like every other year, I found myself watching the Capitol 4th on PBS just like Mama and Daddy always did, and what a blessing I received. One segment showed portraits of African Americans who served this nation well – in science, religion, education and medicine; in the armed forces, in sports and on and on. I was reminded of the movie “Hidden Figures,” telling the story of three brilliant African American women playing key roles in the US Space program. Then came a poignant moment when a very special musical piece was shared. Remember the song “There’s Place for Us” from West Side Story? These words spoke new meaning in this musical offering:
“There’s a place for us,
somewhere a place for us.
We’ll find a new way of living,
we’ll find there’s a way of forgiving.
Sometime, somewhere, somehow.
There’s a place for us,
a time and place for us.
Hold my hand and we’re half way there.
Hold my hand and I’ll take you there,
Some how, some day, somewhere.”
May God help us live into the fullness of the truth that there is a place for all of us, and let us “take” each other “there.” Other special musical moments came with “Let There Be Peace on Earth, and Let it Begin With Me,” and “God Bless America.” Of course, the fireworks were spectacular, even from my easy chair here in the manse!
In the closing moments of the program, these words were shared: “The journey our nation is making is one we must make together; the best way to love our country is to love one another.” Let us pray that not only the church, but each and every American will be “a faithful steward of the gifts of these days.”
In the words of one of Pete Seeger’s songs from the sixties:
One man’s hands can’t tear a prison down Two men’s hands can’t tear a prison down But if two and two and fifty make a million We’ll see that day come round We’ll see that day come round.
Praying for that day to “come ‘round” and giving thanks for those streams of mercy, never ceasing, carrying us through these days of reckoning to betters days for all of God’s children.
Elizabeth