Finding the True Word: An Early Morning Reverie

Finding the True Word: An Early Morning Reverie May 26, 2015

witch hanging

Alse Young was hung in Windsor, Connecticut, on this day in 1647, becoming the first person in the American colonies to die convicted of witchcraft. (Some scholars suspect Alice Young Beamon, who some thirty years later in Springfield, Massachusetts, was also tried for witchcraft may have been her daughter. Unlike Young, Beamon successfully defended herself against the charges…)

We can go in any number of directions with this tidbit of information. For me today is a day to start by noticing those accusations of being an outsider, of thinking differently, of challenging the status quo. It was, after all, also on this day a bit farther back in 1328, when the head of the Franciscan order and three others friars including the great William of Ockham fled Avignon, believing the pope was about to arrange their execution.

Accusation of being outside the accepted ways.

Challenging the status quo.

My thoughts follow a thread. It’s always a little hard to tell when the person standing outside is crazy, or a crank, or has inadequate defense in the culture but also has something someone else wants, or, has a prophetic vision that can shake the world and bring about reformation or revolution. Mostly, I suspect, that person is going to belong to one of the earlier categories. But, not always.

Today, as I continue along following the thread, I find myself thinking of prophets and of poets, of mystics and sages.

And, of what a word from outside might mean. Amidst everything else there are those words, magic words, turning words, prophetic words.

True words.

Some years ago on a list serve for clergy a younger in years of service spoke of feeling there was a message that had to be delivered to the community. And after much prayer and meditation and deliberation, gave the sermon. The minister reported to the colleagues that the response was a standing ovation. An older colleague replied, I thought as gently as could be, that if that sermon had truly been prophetic, people would not have stood and clapped.

As the prophet is said to have said, “If you wish to speak the truth, you should have one foot in your horse’s stirrup.” There are several adages around this. Of course. A minister should always have one bag packed. And, a rabbi who is not in danger of being fired, is no rabbi.

So, what that word, whatever else it might be, is dangerous…

And. To be of use I have to also be able to find that prophet’s voice, if not the poet’s. You too…

But, here, today, on the day someone probably, almost certainly was hung for having property someone else wanted, and an accusation of witchcraft, well, a conviction for witchcraft, meant it was available, on a day when the defenseless was hung, on the day of the martyrdom of the outsider, on a day when a photo-scientist had to flee to not be shut up, it might be useful to recall an invitation made at our birth to every one of us.

It’s all about that word.

Now, there’s that other adage, my favorite, all time favorite bumper sticker. Don’t believe everything you think.

Mostly rubbish, or, so partially true, to be of little use. But, if we look at our own hearts. Deeply. Fully. Guard it, comfort it. And, challenge it. Our hearts do need challenging. True comfort can only be found in growing large, in pushing the boundaries, in listening wide. It can hurt. It does hurt. And it it is easy to turn away.

But, the true word can only be found if we live among and as one, to see deep into the great flux, and how it always changes.

To learn the paradox of holding with open hands.

That’s where the word arises, the true word, the turning word, the revolutionary word.

And, when the moment is right, or, when we think maybe the moment is right, it is hard to be sure, but at some point we must: speak that word.

Touched on the tongue by that burning coal, speaking the word of fire.

And then, of course, of course, to live with the consequences…

Where ever they may take us…

What a life.


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