 |
Ramblings and Reflections Newsletter 19 February/March 2005 |
|---|
Dear Friends,
Diane Thiel, faculty member at the University of New Mexico is author of Echolocations , Writing Your Rhythm , The White Horse: A Colombian Journey and the following poetry piece:
Resistance Fantasies
We like to think we would have been
Hans or Sophie Scholl, scattering
anti-Reich leaflets for our lives.
We like to think we would have given
our homes, our future children
for the safety of our neighbors.
We like to think we never could have owned slaves
or better yet, that we were abolitionists.
We never would have paid a factory death wage.
We never would have sat at bulging tables
while the potato famine harvested the villages
or packed people into coffin ships.
We hear of every trail of tears:
The only good Indian is a dead Indian
How could the people come to that – solution?
And then we close our newspapers, somewhat
aware of what our investments might support,
disturbed to be reminded, in the news or in a poem.
We might quietly recognize ourselves
when we hear that all it takes for evil
to triumph is for good people to do nothing.
And yet go home to our lives and our Silence,
that true rough beast, hiding in the hole
of our full bellies.
so easily convinced there is nothing we can do.
And each of us continues to dream
of having been willing to give anything.
at that moment in history, of having been,
at the very least, an active resister.
We were all heroes in someone else's war.
When I received this poem in the mail, I read it over and over again. It made me realize that the dimensions for peacemaking must extend way beyond my present fantasies. “There are miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go.” It is a perfect poem to study before, during and after the forty days of Lent. Lent seems so early this year – February 9 Ash Wednesday through March 27 Easter Sunday.
My Preliminary Thoughts for Lent
Ashes are representative of my mortality and need for repentance and reconciliation. The forty days recall the forty-year journey from bondage in Egypt to liberation in a new land with new hopes. The readings share Jesus' journey from Galilee to Jerusalem. It provides time for me to take stock of my journey, to eliminate clutter, to renew my heart, vision, and commitment and allow God to lead me.
In order to be a full participant in this spiritual journey I must put aside any brokenness, fear, hopelessness, broken relationships. I must die to this old way and identity to become a new creation so to speak.
One of the cards I received listed the gifts of the feminine: giving, receiving, enhancing, loving, unifying, listening, nourishing, attuning, companioning, affirming, caring, connecting, giving life, supporting, healing, gathering, encouraging, including, seeing the whole, partnering, comforting, freeing, gentling, peacemaking, being with, sharing. These reflect a journey of counter-cultural living sufficient to crumble the empire and shake the foundations of every institution of domination and patriarchy. I would add truth-telling, studying and resisting to the list above to be faithful to my Dominican calling and Jonah House lived reality.
We are all ordinary people on this journey. There are no heroes or especially courageous travelers among us. We recognize that fasting and prayer strengthen the body and spirit, but it is God above who takes the brunt of the burdens and who lessens the loads on the way. Yes, Lent seems like a great time to take on the brokenness, fears, struggles, oppression and hopelessness. In our openness we may seek conversion, a renewal, a revolution of the heart, a new creation of peace and justice so we may keep on the journey with more and more fervor.
Books Added to Our List:
These treasures you have sent will assist us on the way. We thank you. The fruit gathered from these books will be passed on and on.
- Serving Time, Serving Others by Johann Christoph Arnold
- Father Arseny (1893-1973) translated by Vera Bouteneff
- Earth Spirituality by Sharon Therese Zayac, OP
- Crucible for Change edited by Nancy Sylvester, IHM and Mary Jo Klick
Miscellaneous
- Consider attending The Solidarity March in Colorado on April 30 th …a 15 mile walk from the Missile Launch Facility M5 to Sterling, CO for a rally with speakers and music. (This is in solidarity with the Stop-the-Bombs Interfaith Pilgrimage that I announced in the last newsletter. Call 303-444-6981 to volunteer or for updates. Website: www.rmpjc.org
- Consider attending the Full Spectrum Resistance an International Space Organizing Conference April 29-30 in New York City. For information – Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space 207-729-0517, www.space4peace.org
- Holy Week Faith and Resistance Retreat in Washington, DC Information – call Jonah House 410-233-6238 www.jonahhouse.org or Dorothy Day Catholic Worker at 202-882-9649.
More Good News
In separate trials in Minneapolis, MN two more groups of Uranium Weapons Protesters were found “Not Guilty” of trespass by juries of their peers when the judge allowed the defense under International Law to be considered. Alliant Tech is a Minnesota manufacturer of depleted uranium weapons – which are weapons of indiscriminate destruction. www.circlevision.org
I Rejoice
Sr. Jackie Hudson will be released on March 4 th and continues her faithful journey. My daily mantra, dear Sister, is “Courage, Sister, you do not walk alone. We will walk with you and sing your spirit home.” Sue Ablao and Ground Zero peacemakers – Thank you!
Dear friends, your letters, subscriptions, love, encouragement, prayers, your witness connect my spirit with you every day.
Deepest gratitude,
Ardeth Platte, OP #10857-039
Federal Correctional Institution
33 ½ Pembroke Station
Danbury, CT 06811