50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON FOR JOBS AND FREEDOM

From Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech:

"But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone."

 A movement for justice grounded in intentional non-violence, the determination to meet physical force with soul force, creates a moral authority of great power that can never be equaled by violence or threats of violence.

 Almighty God, by the hand of Moses your servant you led your people out of slavery, and made them free at last: Grant that your Church, following the example of your prophet Martin Luther King, may resist oppression in the name of your love, and may secure for all your children the blessed liberty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Atlanta, GA (July 16, 2013). The King Center and the 50th Anniversary Coalition are calling on people and organizations across America to help culminate the 50th anniversary of The March on Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech with “Let Freedom Ring” bell-ringing events at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on August 28th, a half-century to the minute after Dr. King delivered his historic address. In other nations, there will be bell-ringing ceremonies at 3:00 p.m. in their respective time zones.

Collect from Holy Women, Holy Men.

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS TOGETHER - SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

THEN

June and Tom - September 13, 1961

AND NOW

Tom and June - September 13, 2011

Folks have asked us the secret of our long life together. Each long-married couple is unique, and what I say here is quite personal and should be read simply as an account of what I believe worked for us. First of all, I believe that we entered into marriage as a commitment for life. We intended for our relationship to endure, through good times and difficult times.

Next, at least for me, I believe it was better that Tom and I were friends first, and falling in love happened over a period of time. With the wisdom of hindsight, I think of the two or three boys and young men with whom I fell - as Jane Austen would say - violently in love. The relationships did not last, and if I had gone on to marry any of them, the marriages probably would not endured. One, I'm quite sure, would have failed rather spectacularly.

We'd never have made it without each of us having a sense of humor, plus neither of us will permit the other to take him/herself too seriously for very long.

We air our differences openly, and it's not always pretty, but when the argument is over, it is done, with no lengthy, pouty silences following.

We enjoy some of the same activities, and we go our different ways other times, which seems to have been good for our relationship.

And that's about it for wisdom from the aged - for now. I'm reminded of Eliot's words:

The only wisdom we can hope to acquire
Is the wisdon of humility: humility is endless.

The pictures are from our brunch/lunch over the weekend when the family gathered to celebrate our anniversary and the September birthdays of four members of the family: my son Patrick, my daughter Alison, my grandson Joey, and me. September seems to be a month for new life in our family. Our celebration was lovely.

The restaurant permitted us to bring our own champagne for a small corking fee. My friend Dennis, the psychologist, who was once a wine-seller, recommended several brands of the bubbly, and I was able to find Taittinger at our local market. I don't care for a good many champagnes, plus some of them give me a headache, but the Taittinger was perfect. Dennis described the brand as having a 'delicate style', which it did, indeed, and everyone enjoyed it. Best of all, I didn't get a headache.

WHAT TOM AND I HAVE WROUGHT

 

My son Patrick and his children, Joshua and Ashlynn, with cousin William

My daughter-in-law Cindy, their son Joey, and my son Tim

 

My grandsons Bryan and William, my daughter's boy friend Frank, and my daughter Alison

My grandson Andrew was absent from the gathering because he had scheduled his first driver's education lesson, and he would not, for the world, have missed. We missed not having Andrew with us, but I don't hold his decision against him.

Sunday morning at church, instead of the regular anniversary prayer for Tom and me, Fr Ron, our interim rector, asked the congregation to join with him to say the 'Blessing of a Marriage' from the marriage ceremony in The Book of Common Prayer. The prayer is lovely, and Tom and I were both quite moved and a bit teary-eyed.

O God, you have so consecrated the covenant of marriage that in it is represented the spiritual unity between Christ and his Church: Send therefore your blessing upon these your servants, that they may so love, honor, and cherish each other in faithfulness and patience, in wisdom and true godliness, that their home may be a haven of blessing and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve, and keep you; the Lord mercifully with his favor look upon you, and fill you with all spiritual benediction and grace; that you may faithfully live together in this life, and in the age to come have life everlasting. Amen.

Now you know the occasion for the dozen golden roses, which Tom had arranged to be on the table when we arrived at the restaurant. The children and Tom went all out for our celebration. I thank them all, and I love them all.

STORY OF THE DAY - SIDE BY SIDE

We sat side by side in the morning light
& looked out at the future together.

The story reminds me of sitting with Grandpère 50 years ago next month. Knowing what I know today, the good times and the difficult times, I would do it all over again.

From StoryPeople.