Journeying Toward Freedom and Equity

  The Resistant Activist When we were children, our mother taught us compassion, showed us how to reach out to those in need (it might have been free day care, staying at our house, or giving of any surplus we had of food).   As an adult, when I taught CCD, in a rural community outside Albany, I talked to my students about Lent. The lesson I gave was to be reminded of the children who lived in Albany who had much less than them, and what did it mean to sacrifice.   The children were asked to give up something that they possessed, and we would give these items to children in Albany. They were to be guided by their parents. (Did not want them giving away something that maybe their parents would not approve.)   Every child had a reason for what they contributed:   a favorite piece of clothing, money earned from chores, a favorite toy.   We then made arrangements to actually visit a south-end neighborhood ministry in Albany (1970’s).   The parents and ...

  https://ignatiansolidarity.net/blog/2021/03/28/palm-sunday-compassionate-solidarity/             I failed. Again.   This past weekend, I found myself in conversation with an in-law regarding the state of our nation and our differing political opinions. Both of us acknowledged that our faith and our understanding of God’s will were crucial in shaping our views. We shared common ground.   It was not long into our conversation that the very reactions I have been working hard to overcome surfaced:  anger, frustration, defensiveness – and not to be indelicate – sweaty armpits. Good grief, I thought afterwards, I am still incapable of engaging in conversations about polarizing topics without losing it.   What happened? Two things. First, I allowed fear to take over. I forgot to love. Love keeps my fear and desperation in check along with my need to be right, to have the last word. The second was that...

https://ignatiansolidarity.net/blog/2021/02/22/may-justice-take-root/ A Reflection on the Following Questions:    What suffering are you called to witness?  How are you being called to respond?   How can you better accompany and stand with those whose experiences differ from yours, particularly those impacted by injustice?     For many weeks I have walked with Clifford Ryan ( On the Ground with the OGS , OGS Against Gun Violence) . We have walked through neighborhoods that many will not even drive through. My first impression was the broken sidewalks and it certainly was not like the orderly, lily-white neighborhood I live and work in. The jail-like atmosphere of the housing projects, the lack of flowers and trees, nothing but cement.   It was more than the South side.   It was the North side and West side; we have walked them all.   We stopped and prayed for the victims of shootings and listened to the families of those vi...