Good morning…
Following last week’s widely discussed post, We Differ Politically, one loyal subscriber sent me a copy of a speech presented in 1944. Highly respected Judge Learned Hand (1872-1961) shared keen words of wisdom during the “I am an American Day” celebrations.
“The fifth paragraph blows me away,” our regular reader wrote. Pondering the grounding wisdom, I too was blown away by the following paragraph.
“What then is the spirit of liberty?” asked Judge Learned Hand. “I cannot define it; I can only tell you my own faith. The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right; the spirit of liberty is the spirit which seeks to understand the mind of other men and women; the spirit of liberty is the spirit that weighs their interests alongside its own without bias; the spirit of liberty remembers that not even a sparrow falls to the earth unheeded; the spirit of liberty is the spirit of Him who, nearly two thousand years ago, taught mankind that lesson it has never learned but never quite forgotten; that there may be a kingdom where the least shall be heard and considered side by side with the greatest.”
Distilled down for today, might we each be guided by the spirit of liberty?
- Don’t be too sure that you are right.
- Seek to understand the mind of other men and women.
- Without bias, weigh the interests of others alongside your own.
- Remember that we are all deeply loved by God, not even a sparrow falls to the earth unheeded.
- Let each of us seek to learn from and not forget the inclusive, welcoming spirit of the living Christ.
- Jesus teaches us about a kingdom where the least shall be heard and considered side by side with the greatest.
Today is a big day in our little village of Vinings. Collectively we will vote whether or not to establish “local control,” to become a city now and forever. As we thoughtfully consider the issues surrounding city-hood, many people I love will vote “Vinings Yes,” many people I love will vote “Vinings No,” and many people I love will effectively vote “Vinings Maybe,” casting a “No” vote today while continuing to explore the possibility of “Yes” with more collaboration, at a slower pace. I earnestly pray that today, in the spirit of freedom, each of us will cast our single vote in the direction we truly believe will further God’s kingdom in Vinings. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom] (2 Corinthians 3:17, AMP).
Might our diligent process of discernment in tiny Vinings on this big day be just one small seed of the spirit of liberty designed to guide our prayerful decision making throughout the world. Now and forever.
…Sue…
