Resurrection of the Human Spirit

• Catholic Worker activist Art Laffin shared this photo from Washington.  The annual Holy Week Faith and Resistance Retreat was held in the nation's capital and protests followed at the White House (above) and the Pentagon where seven were arrested for their Good Friday Witness against endless war.  Imagine being arrested by the military forces of the so-called 'Christian nation' for trying to spread the message of the Prince of Peace.  The message of Christ has been distorted from love, peace, justice and sharing to 'a personal relationship with Christ' which fits in well with the 'every dog for themself' culture that capitalism has infested so many people with.  So yes let's all pray for the resurrection of the human spirit and a new consciousness of connection to one another and to nature....we need it badly.
• We had our final Lenten peace vigil at Bath Iron Works today.  One of our regulars, an elder woman and lifelong peacenik, expressed her deep sadness and frustration to me that she would not likely see peace in her lifetime.  I didn't know what to say to her....there wasn't much I could say in that moment.  
• I stood with my sign (a commuter rail system pictured on it with the words 'Made in Bath') facing the gate as workers lined up to leave the shipyard at noon.  They were a captive audience.  No one yelled anything but some of the younger guys were buzzing and laughing with each other as they uncomfortably made fun of us.  In those moments I thought of all the people I was standing there on behalf of.... the people on Jeju Island where these warships will be ported; the people in Ukraine who now have a civil war because of the US-NATO sponsored coup d'état while destroyers made here are presently being deployed into the Black Sea as a threat to Russia; the people of Iraq who were attacked in 2003 by the missiles fired from these warships; and the list goes on.
• I respect people who go to church.  I respect anyone who believes in the Prince of Peace and  tries to follow the example of the non-violent Jesus.  I was raised to honor Jesus who I believe was a trouble maker and an organizer on behalf of the outcasts, the unwanted, the discarded from society.  Sadly I see few Christians, and few of their churches, really sticking their necks out to truly follow the path of their savior.  I've heard far too many stories over the years of good peace people being asked to leave their local church because their witness for peace made the congregation and the pastor uncomfortable.  The healthy tension they brought into the church ultimately hurt the collection plate - and that was the first priority of their church.
• America is much like Disneyland where appearance trumps reality.  Too many people go to church because of the fancy building, or the business contacts, or the pressure to belong or follow the crowd.  I honor those struggling Christians who are trying to be real and wish to carry on the life of Jesus.  May Easter bring them new strength and courage to carry the cross of love, joy, justice and real peace.