Living in coronavirusworld 184: We will get by, we will survive

 

10/8

Stony Point

My friend and colleague Linda Eastwood tonight is awarded the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship’s Barstow-Driver Award at a virtual dinner for her witness for non-violent social action. With more degrees than I can imagine. Linda has been a scientist, a theologian, an educator and an activist. She was one of the early pioneers in “Accompaniment” witness in Colombia walking with people through dangerous times. She later became the lead organizer for that work. Just retired from teaching at McCormick Seminary, she has travelled throughout the world on her journey. I came to know her as we travelled together last fall through Central America to learn why so many people felt they could no longer simply live safely in their home countries and came to join the refugee flow north. Her quiet courage and  clear thoughts and soft spoken but incisive words show what a faithful life can look like, It has been an honor to know and work together with her in our yet incomplete project, both in the immediate Central American work and in the larger project that is a neverending call. Even virtually, it was good for us all to be together. 

10/9

The word about Stony Point has now become official. The entire staff has bene let go, including my friend Rick Ufford-Chase, by the end of November. An amazing multi-faceted witness comes to an end. Education, worship, agriculture, community organizing, refugee defense work, sanctuary, spirituality and social action not just talked about or proclaimed but lived on a daily basis. It is heart breaking. A place that has been so important to me, where I wrote my doctoral dissertation, where meetings with my congregation, PHEWA, International Sanctuary Work Group, Interfaith Center, Interfaith Assembly  and so much more happened over the years will not be what it has been to me. Another location of my life landscape taken away. Rick and his wife Kitty are a strong team. They will go on.  Sadly, I don’t think the church understands what it has lost. Institution and vision seem incompatible with each other.

Rick, in his typical way of grace, does not blame an institution with difficult decisions to make for the outcome. He does, however blame  a national administration  the still has no coherent plan to deal with the virus. Covid claims another victim.

My housemate tells me that his younger sister, with some preexisting conditions, died this morning of Covid related cause. He will leave Monday for Mississippi. In case anyone may have forgotten, we are still dying. Meanwhile, the President, still infected, stages a dramatic return to the White House and with stage lighting and pompous music ascends to the balcony and removes his mask. It just doesn’t  stop.

Sometimes I just don’t want to do open mic. Enough. But there’s Mark, who’s produced some of the best in the business. Who was at Yale a few years before me. Who writes memorable music with good hooks. With dialysis three times week. There are folks who come after meetings. People who have come out on the other side of all kinds of things. Sharing music helps us all get through. So I keep coming back to do this, week after week. We will get by, we will survive.