Love is the way

This morning, the words, “bombs and war”, took my breath away. And I needed not to be undone by the headwinds of dispiriting news.
In our morning session, I stood before a group gathered for retreat at Mercy Center in Auburn, California, where we have spent a life-enriching weekend talking about the Power of Pause. And on this morning, we needed that Pause, in order to not react, and in order to remember (and embrace) what is in our DNA, and at the core of our being: Light and Love.
When life is difficult, there is a part of me that simply wants to plug my ears and close my eyes. And yet… More than ever, I need (and pray for) sustenance and replenishment. To be here now.
And gratefully, my mind goes back to 2018, to a homily in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, that I watched on TV. And I wasn’t the only one. It is a homily that needs revisiting and repeating.
And, blessedly, in the revisit today, it did my heart good.
During a Royal Wedding, Bishop Michael Curry (at the time, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church) quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we do that, we will be able to make of this old world a new world. Love is the only way.”
“I’m talking about some power. Real power,” Bishop Curry continued. “Power to change the world. If you don’t believe me, well, there were some old slaves in America’s antebellum South who explained the dynamic power of love and why it has the power to transform. They explained it this way: They sang a spiritual, even in the midst of their captivity. It’s one that says there is a balm in Gilead, a healing balm—something that can make things right. There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole.”
“Think and imagine a world when love is the way,” Curry goes on.
“Imagine our homes and families when love is the way.
Imagine neighborhoods and communities when love is the way.
Imagine governments and nations when love is the way.
Imagine business and commerce when love is the way.
Imagine this tired, old world when love is the way.
When love is the way—unselfish, sacrificial, redemptive—then no child will go to bed hungry in this world ever again. When love is the way, we will let justice roll down like a mighty stream and righteousness like an ever-flowing brook. When love is the way, poverty will become history. When love is the way, the Earth will be a sanctuary. When love is the way, we will lay down our swords and shields down by the riverside to study war no more. When love is the way, there is plenty of good room for all of God’s children. Because when love is the way, we actually treat each other like we are actually family. When love is the way, we know that God is the source of us all. And we are brothers and sisters, children of God. My brothers and sisters, that’s a new heaven, a new Earth, a new world, a new human family.”
And after his sermon, I stand and say, “Let the choir sing…”

And yet. There are cracks in our psyche. In our world. In our relationships. We try to hide or run from them or keep them contained, or find some way to close our eyes, in order to not be embarrassed. Perhaps you can relate.
But here’s the deal: when we see only the cracks, our blindness may not be complete darkness, but scotoma—which means “selective blindness”. Because vulnerability unnerves me so, I often prefer to live with my blindness. (Of course, it’s always for a good reason.  After all, it seems to serve me well.) Regardless, it is a way of not-seeing, and in the end, a way of not-living. And in our increasingly polarized world, this blindness prevents us from being present. Or aware. Or compassionate. Whether it is to those close to me, or to injustice, or to joy, or to passion. When we are blind, we hide behind self-righteousness, narrow-mindedness, an unfair life, self-doubt, and fear.

But what if, love is alive and well? What is love is the way?
“All I know,” said the man, “is that once I was blind and now I see.”
This is an avowal made famous by John Newton, former slave trader, and author of the world’s most recognized song: Amazing Grace.
It is from a moving story in the Gospel of John. And today, let us consider and embrace the fact that this is not a case study or cerebral exercise or illustration. At some point, this is personal. I can tell you, I am the man in that gospel story.
And we need to decide whether or not we are “playing church”.
Either we believe in grace, or we do not.
Either we believe in real transformation, or we do not.
Either we believe in hope, or we do not.
Either we believe love is the way, or we do not.
This transformation cannot be orchestrated or coerced or predicated on shame.  It can however, be embraced, and celebrated, and shared.
The transformation comes, when we recognize that sight—this new way “To Be” in the world—is a Gift. It doesn’t happen because we try harder. Or have more faith.
What difference does this make?
If we give up our blindness, we accept our vulnerability and embrace responsibility. Because Grace gives us sight. And sight connects us. (I love the greeting in the movie Avatar, “I see you.” I acknowledge you.) And this kind of love has the power to change the world. I don’t have three steps to compassionate living. However, here’s the deal; if we are open to it, grace—the power of “love is the way”—changes our life. And that change spills to everyone around us. Even if we can’t explain it.

After a life-giving weekend here at Mercy Center, I’ll now be heading to the bay area to spend some time with my good friend, Rev. Bill McNabb.
And reading weather reports, I see that in most places, you’ll need your summer clothes. Stay cool. Stay hydrated. And stay calm. And be on the lookout for those who need a helping hand, a warm embrace, and the gift of love.

Quote for our week… “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” Desmond Tutu

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Today’s Photo Credit: Bee savoring Sunflower time in our garden. Nothing better for the heart and spirit than garden gifts and bees dancing… And thank you to all, I love your photos… please, keep sending them… send to terryhershey.com 

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Letters that do my heart good…
–Hi, Terry, I am sure you have a wide readership—but I wanted you to know about the ripple effect of your newsletter. I was recently in Europe at a series of Emergency medical services related meetings. I read your newsletter in the morning over coffee while I did a little meditative preparation for the day ahead. There was a passage that jumped out of me. Paraphrased, it said the world does not need any more successful people, it needs bridge builders. Later in the day, I use that phrase to close a meeting of a meeting of world leaders gathered to talk about improving cardiac arrest survival around the world. To my surprise, the representative in the room from the World Health Organization used my phrase—your phrase—the next day during his keynote in front of 1200 people from 47 different countries. Thank you for shining a light for all of us. Ann
–Good Morning, Terry, Great Sabbath moment this morning. We went up to Vancouver, B.C. this past weekend. Our son lives there along with his wife and teenage daughter. They were worried about us coming up with all of the unrest going on. I am happy to report it was smooth sailing both ways. While there I had a little bit of time to talk with my 16-year-old granddaughter. One of the things that I tried to explain to her was that technology is great but we are losing the ability to have intentional conversations. I told her that I use to be involved in community organizing and they taught us to have one on one conversations with people we didn’t know. The person we would meet would talk to us about their life for 5 minutes without interruption and we would to the same to them. I remember one person I did this with told me I had an Ozzie and Harriet upbringing. I was so fortunate and realized that is not always the norm. All for now. Blessings on your day, Joan
–Good morning, Terry, I want to thank you for offering us so much encouragement over these past days and weeks. You really make a difference! Yes, we can keep going because we are here. This is our time and our place. Gratitude leads the way. Great blessings to you for sharing yours. Sky Ann
–Thank you, Terry Hershey for being a light in the darkness to help us find our way. Bless you. Mazel Tov. Linda