Reflections
My younger sister was due to be born on September 30, 1962. Had she arrived on the date circled on our family calendar, life in the Gray family would have been considerably different. Rather, she came into this world a month earlier. Thus, my father, rather than tending to my mother in the Oxford hospital, ended up a month later in the middle of the Ole Miss riot that accompanied the enrollment of James Meredith as the first Black student at the University of Mississippi. That experience would shape our family for decades to come.
After more than a year of litigation and a vow by Governor Barnett never to integrate, James Meredith entered the University of Mississippi on September 30, 1962, as the first Black student-and that university, this state and the Gray family would never be the same.
Mr. Meredith is the subject of a photography exhibit that opened in Bozarts Gallery last Saturday. As I viewed the photographs on Wednesday, I was reminded again of the courage of that young, Air Force veteran from Kosciusko, Mississippi, who had the faith, moral clarity and courage to take on the governmental powers, the culture and more almost two centuries of segregation. I still remember his quiet dignity as he walked the campus 60 years ago refusing to respond to the taunting and racial epithets shouted by his fellow students.
In later years he found the Episcopal Church as he searched for a church for his grandson, and I had the occasion to introduce Mr. Meredith to my father ( He later attended my father’s funeral) and visit with him from time to time. His life is far more nuanced and complex than either his friends or detractors often appreciate. A mutual friend often reminded me, “James always walked to the beat of a different drummer.”
But by being faithful to what he believed God was calling him to be and do, he changed this state and nation. This week Ole Miss remembers, in a number of different ways, the 60th anniversary of Mr. Meredith’s arrival.
What parts of our little worlds might be changed if we had the courage and compassion to follow the one our Presiding Bishop calls our “Loving, Liberating, Life-giving God” into hate-filled, even dangerous venues?
We may not have all the answers or see with absolute moral clarity, but small steps in love can undercut mighty foundations of hate.
Do we dare to believe…to live…such foolishness?
Sunday’Scripture-a few brief thoughts
Amos 6:1a, 4-7
Amos sounds like a broken record, but his attacks on the indolent rich who want no part of caring for the poor, needy and oppressed is a consistently shrill voice that has, through 25 centuries, challenged the moral conscience of every individual, group and nation. And, it is a voice that, through the centuries, every individual, group and nation has sought to silence.
Psalm 146
The psalmist praises God who desires all the things that Amos preaches about, and is convinced that God will accomplish what God promises. It reminds me of Dr. King’s comforting words, that “the arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice.”
1 Timothy 6:6-19
I noticed ( maybe for the first time!) the link between two very familiar passages: “for we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out”, a very comforting passage in our burial liturgy, and “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil”, an often misquoted passage. Both speak to an attitude toward life. Both follow a verse that gives both a context: “ There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment.” Oh, ‘contentment’ , thou art so elusive!
Luke 16:19-31
This is the classic tale of the rich man who has been blind to the needs of those needy in his midst. I don’t know about you, readers, but over the last several weeks in our assigned scriptures God seems to be working especially hard to get me to pay attention to my own blindness to the needs of others.
Other Matters of Interest
This Sunday- September 25
The Reverend Ann Whitaker will be our preacher and celebrant this Sunday. Welcome, Ann!
In addition, after church we’ll set up for some social time. Coffee will be provided. Snacks from the congregation are invited.
Feast of St. Francis Blessing of the Animals- This Saturday, October 1; 9:00am at Pocket Park next to BTC grocery. Please have dogs on leases, cats in containers and larger animals safely secured! Invite your friends and animals!
Beginning October 16- Adult Sunday School: “Episcopal Church 101- a guide to our peculiar way of life”.
We’ll meet @9:15 on Sunday mornings for 5 weeks in the comfortable and casual atmosphere of the This Is Noteworthy building (16s Main Street). Bring your curiosity and a friend and be willing to set aside what you thought you knew about the Episcopal Church!
Deacon-in-Training at Nativity: Bishop Seage has assigned Ms. Tina Frizzell, a student at the Marble School for the Diaconate, to work for approximately 6 months at Nativity as part of her training towards ordination for the diaconate. Tina will begin her work at Nativity October 23.
Handicapped Accessibility: The Mission Committee has begun work, with renewed seriousness , on the challenges of making our church more accessible. At the invitation of the Mission Committee, Les Nichols, an architect at Nativity, has submitted a detailed proposal to address the accessibility challenges. Additional conversation will be needed, but we have taken a major step!
Peace,
Duncan
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