Authorship is attributed to Christopher Pensiero.
I have been traveling to witness to the shared humanity of us all, and that of god in everyone at Delaney Hall in Newark I had been much disturbed by the racial inequality and rising violence on display in this country. I also had a concern that the vitriol that seems to be flung by both sides. I was reminded of the dichotomy with two of our great abolitionists Woolman and Lay and while Lay spoke the truth with anger Woolman spoke with love. I was reading the a Pamphlet by Kenneth Boulding and this spoke to my condition “Love God more than your country, more than your class, more than your race, more than your creed.” I see them persecuted, and cast into prison, and put to death, but conquering all these things through the love that fills their whole being, leaving no room for mistrust, or fear, or pain. They shall absorb the world’s hate and anger into their own bodies, and will give none in return, so that the streams of hatred that fly around the world, bounding and rebounding from the flinty surfaces of unredeemed souls, will dwindle and pass away. I see the hardness melting from men’s souls, a new and eager look brightening in their eyes, a dissolving of old hates, a coming together in joyful unity.” it spoke to my condition and a way opened and so I headed up.
I witnessed to families leaving the dentition center, telling them “te amo” that I loved and saw them. When the ice officers march out in anger, I ask them to to be open to the love of God in their hearts, that what they are doing, is wrong, that I know they may be trying their best to make the world better, that this was not the way. I read to them advice and excerpts from faith and practice that spoke to my condition, and have been bringing up water bottles for Ice watch and the family charities that are camped around the center. I have participated in poetry readings and peace choirs for the detainees and the guards. I have tried to stand as a embodiment of love, despite the growing hatred.
During the night the barricade at the first amendment zone came down I called out to the police about a concern, a very real concern I had for their soul. I was heartened when some came to speak to me sharing their own concerns. I was most heartened when, at the end of that night, when I saw state troopers donning riot gear I found myself calling out “Friends this is a place of peace, yet I see you dressing for war, are you intending Violence?” and to my amazement, the burgeoning phalanx disperse, with one even taking off his helmet and stowing his baton.
I do not know if my actions will have any lasting impact, but as Douglas V Steer said in his excellent William Penn Lecture The open life. There is power in open life. I am openly friendly I try to follow the testimonies, and advice of early friends in all I do, and especially in how I engage in the world. In the face of the anger, and hatred, and fear in the world, when the scared human in me wants to turn inward, or lash out, the promptings of the divine tell me again to open my heart. I will continue trying to witness to that of god in everyone.
