This year my birthday and Easter coincide. That feels
like a harbinger to me of a new path for my life. Easter is a time of renewal.
For many, a renewal of faith. Recently President Jimmy Carter, one of my
favorite people, wrote a book—now published—called Faith. Last week, Judy Woodruff of the PBS Newshour interviewed him on air.
When Carter described the topic of his book, he spoke of
the faith we put in many things. For instance, we trust, or have faith in,
democracy. We may have faith in our parents. Faith in ourselves. Faith in our
abilities. So what he’s talking about, as I understand it, is the faith we have
in what makes up the tapestry of our life.
Many years passed before I could have faith in my
writing ability. Now I trust that I can craft a good sentence that will speak
to readers and be accessible to them. Today, Easter, my faith in my writing is
being renewed because of the reviews and e-mails I’ve received from many of you
about the convent memoir Prayer Wasn’t
Enough. I thank you for this Easter gift of faith renewal.
Beyond that, I find another deep
faith within myself right now: faith in the March for Our Lives
Movement.
This past month we saw many young
people marching and demanding new gun control. They are not protesting the 2nd
Amendment; they are not asking for the elimination of all guns; they are not
denouncing all gun owners. They are simply saying that we need to raise the
buying age to 21; that we need a fine-tuned background check; and that we need
to rid our culture of assault rifles, which are human killing machines. That
message seems moderate to me. And the young people delivering it with such
passion seem to me to be faith-filled. They have faith in their ability to
bring about change.
And I have faith in them and in
their commitment as they take on the NRA and its membership.
As I listened this past week to the CD of “The Man of La
Mancha” I saw the youth as Don Quixote come back to lead us to the impossible
dream. Back in the late 1960s, I saw this musical on stage in Dayton, Ohio. It
inspired me then; it inspires me now. Don Quixote embraced an unimaginable quest;
he tried to reach an unreachable star.
The dream of many of today’s youth may look impossible;
the quest may seem impractical; the star may seem unreachable. But listen to
that musical: Don Quixote changed many lives, particularly Sancho and Aldonza,
who, at the end, claimed the sweet name of Dulcinea. These youth are our contemporary
Don Quixote. It may seem—given the strength of the NRA—that they are tilting at
windmills, but I have faith that they will ride on to glory. And take us with
them!
Peace.
Dee, I really liked this post. What you said about the young people marching and what they're marching for... was very simple and clear-cut and full of truth. In today's world people twist and turn things around so much that sometimes the simple truth is no longer visible. And although I've heard that song many times, listening to it today on your blog was very meaningful... all the things going on in our world right now passed through my mind as I listened. Truth be known - I do have faith that most people are good, all will be well, and that common sense will win in the end. And maybe it will take our young people and their courage (and voting rights) to get us there.
ReplyDeleteDear Rian, you've really summed up what I was trying to say. Thank you. I'm glad you listened to the song--it so speaks to me of what is possible if we but believe in ourselves and in the possibility of change. Happy April. Peace.
DeleteWonderful post, Dee. I am in the middle of your book right now and enjoying it tremendously. You are definitely a talented writer. I too am excited by the energy of the young people today. I think they have lived through so much trauma that I could not have imagined when I went to public school. I was a marcher here in my own town last week. I wish I could do more! Happy Easter and birthday, Dee! Peace back to you. :-)
ReplyDeleteDear DJan, these youthful hearts and minds are leading us now just as a couple of generations ago a group led the Vietnam War protest. That changed the course of history and I truly believe that we are in the midst of change now. I think you do so much more than you know through your positive and thought-provoking postings on your blog. Peace now and always. And thank you for the birthday greeting!
DeleteThis new generation of kids are picking up where their grandparents left off.
ReplyDeleteDear Joanne, you are so right! The Vietnam War protest brought change and this "March for Our Lives" will too! Peace.
DeleteHappy Birthday, Dee!
ReplyDeleteI would imagine that Carter's interview with Woodruff was very enlightening.
A group of the old college friends got together for our nearly annual luncheon & we spoke of the March for Our Lives movement. Nearly all of my school chums have school-aged children. Most were hopeful, myself included, that the Parkland students will affect positive change and our gun laws will be reformed. I think the student activists are courageous & unwavering in their convictions. This seems to be what we need right now.
Best wishes from the West Coast! Bea
Dear Bea, thank you for the birthday greeting! I had a wonderful day yesterday. And thank you also for sharing what you and your old college friends think is happening. I so like the word you used about the conviction of the young today--unwavering. That is the word! Thank you for it. Peace, pressed down and overflowing to you.
DeleteA very Happy Birthday to you dear Dee.
ReplyDeleteI hope (so much) that your faith in the March for Our Lives Movement, and their faith in themselves is joyously fulfilled.
And I am very much looking forward to reading your memoir. My faith in your writing ability has never, ever wavered.
Dear Sue, thank you for the birthday greeting; my day yesterday was filled with a realization of just how blessed my life has been.
DeleteLike you I so hope that the faith the youth have in themselves with be "joyously fulfilled."
I hope you will enjoy the memoir, and I thank you for you unstinting and unfailing faith in my writing. Peace now and ever.
Those marches renew my faith in this generation.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Dee!
Dear Birdie, yes, my faith is renewed also. In so many ways, these young people involved in the March for Our Lives Movement are touching the lives of each of us.
DeleteThank you for the birthday greeting! I am so grateful for the years of my life. Peace to you this month and throughout all the rest of your wonderful life.
Happy birthday And congrats on the early success of your latest book. I love how there is a strong youth movement trying to change things for a different outcome but with the current head of your states it is going to take many more peaceful marches and many younsters trying to shift a concept at a time when democracy is in crisis because it is no longer functioning opptimally....
ReplyDeleteDon Quixote the character was an elderly man who suffered from mild dementia by today’s standards and in the actual novel he thrived in his fantastical life. The two volumes became a powerful influence of novel writing in the Western culture. I have a painting of the two men on horse and mule. The story lends itself to other art forms. It is even used as a tale to help young children learn of those times.
Dear Heidrun, like you I think that democracy in the United States is in a time of crisis unlike any in my lifetime--really unlike any since the Civil War in 1860-1865. Because of the partisanship in Congress and the loss of identity in the Republican party and because of a ego-centric and narcissistic president the government is no longer "functioning optimally" as you said. I so hope that this youth movement is the catalyst we need for change. Peace.
DeleteHope your birthday was a wonderful one and you felt loved by all around you
ReplyDeleteDear Jo-Anne, my birthday filled me with gratitude for the many people who have befriended me throughout my life. I live a blessed existence. And for that I am grateful. I hope all is well in your life and that you, too, feel loved by all around you. Peace.
DeleteHAPPY BIRTHDAY DEE. Hope it has been a wonderful day for you.
ReplyDeleteI too am a fan of Jimmy Carter and have read several of his books. What a decent man and I wish we had more like him.
Like Djan, I am currently reading and enjoying your book. Will do a post on it when I finish.
Dear Patti, thank you for the birthday greeting. Yesterday was a wonderful day, just as today is being.
DeleteJimmy Carter is, as you said, "a decent man." A man of great civility who has reached out to everyone he's met with respect and appreciation for differences.
I am so glad to learn that your are enjoying your book. I look forward to your post. It's really being a wonderful time for me. Peace now and always.
Like you I have such hope in the students of America, I really wish them well in all they are trying to achieve.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter and Happy Birthday to you from South Korea!
Wren x
Dear Wren, what they are trying to achieve truly does seem almost impossible here in the United States were the National Rifle Association is so powerful and where so many in Congress have accepted multi-million contributions from the NRA so that these representatives can get re-elected.
DeleteBut I believe that the youth of today believe they can bring about change--just as the youth of all ages have done. And I'm with them!
Thank you for the Easter and birthday greetings. I didn't realize you live in South Korea. I'd so like to visit your country, but because of Meziere's Disease I have trouble flying now. So I will count on your blog to take me there! Peace.
Happy Belated Birthday Dee! I do hope it was a wonderful day in conjunction with Easter. And, did someone make a carrot cake for you? I am reading your book and loving it. You are a great writer and I find it so soothing to read your stories. You have a great way of drawing your reader into the moment! Will write a review soon. Joy to you!
ReplyDeleteLynda
Dear Lynda, thank you for the birthday greeting! And I so look forward to your review. Thank you in advance for writing one for Amazon and Goodreads! Peace.
DeleteI think your hope and faith that todays younger generation will persevere in leading the changes so necessary is correct...:)
ReplyDeleteDear Troutbirder, yes, I think that within them burns the same commitment that was in myself way back in 1969 and thereafter with regard to the Vietnam War. One of the things I most admire about the young people in this movement is that they don't spend much time denouncing those who believe differently. Instead they concentrate on their message. Many in the war protest forgot to do that. they assigned all sort so motives to those who continued to support the war. The youth today seem somewhat wiser to me. Peace.
DeleteThe Carters have always been role models and an inspiration to me with their humanitarian work. Jimmy Carter reminds me so much of my dad. Having taught high school students for much of my life, I'm really proud of how the Parkland students have taken things into their own hands. Many times in our history it has been the young people who have seen things that are wrong and had the courage and even naïveté to take on "the system". We need the wisdom and experience of the Elders but we also need to value and listen to the optimism and passion of youth. Namaste, Dee.
ReplyDeleteDear Cynthia, yes, it's that optimism and passion that we do need. Many of us are worn down by the struggle and the youth are lifting us up! Peace.
DeleteI saw that interview too. I have read several of his books and need to read this one as well. Errol named his last dog Faith and I know why. It didn't work out and I have been wondering about faith ever since. Will write you soon.
ReplyDeleteDear Inger, I suspect "Faith" is something we struggle with all our lives because we put faith in so many things and so many people and in ourselves. I'm glad you saw the interview too. He is such a gentle, decent man. Peace.
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