289. Stand Up
Remember toward the end of the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, when the jury has found Tom Robinson guilty. And Atticus, Tom’s lawyer and Scout’s father, is leaving the courtroom. All the blacks (the book says Negroes) were getting to their feet. And Reverend Sykes says to Scout, “Miss Jean Louse, stand up. Your father’s passin’.”
I was thinking about that scene the other day, and wondering who today I would rise to my feet for. I considered who I hold in admiration and respect for the way they live, and for the things they were doing.
In the United Methodist Church I would rise to my feet for two bishops—Bishop Minerva Carcano and Bishop Melvin Talbert, for their clear stands in justice and inclusion of gays and lesbians.
I would stand up if Richard Deats were passing, because of his life-long commitment to peace-making and his willingness to both protest and to talk. I’ve never met the following two people in person but from what I’ve read I would stand for Thich Naht Hanh and Sister Chan Khong in their willingness to help suffering on both sides of the Vietnam war and their continued commitment to peace in small and large ways.
I’ll think about this list and gradually add more to it. I’ll work on my living, hoping that some day someone might be inspired by my life.
