Monday, June 15, 2015

Peace At The Monastery

 
 
 
Remember I told you that I was making kitchen towels as a wedding present?  I went to the Monastery on Saturday morning with my bag of crochet work and finished them under these trees!  There had been a 5k run early that morning and they were announcing the winners over in front of the Monastery Gift Shop...it was pleasant to sit there and crochet as I heard the muffled sound of the runners and the applause that greeted the names.  The birds were singing and even though the sun promised to get hot for the day, there was a cool breeze blowing and the shade was...well, heavenly!
I also had some other crochet pieces that I had made in the bag, and I took them out to let the sun shine upon them.  Am I too fanciful to think that the blessed peacefulness of the place could be transferred onto these handmade things?  It is my hope anyway. 

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There is a story in the news this week of a woman who claimed to be African American and was the president of a NAACP chapter.
She has now resigned after her parents came forward with the news that she was their daughter (her parents are white.)  I know that everything reminds me of a book or a movie but I have to tell you about a book called "Black Like Me".  It is a true story of a journalist, a white man, who chemically altered his skin so as to "pass" as a black man.  Why would he do this?  His name was John Howard Griffin and he traveled on Greyhound buses in the South for six weeks in the early 1960's because he wanted to see how the world treated a man of color.  Can you believe it, he actually came to Conyers, Georgia!  One of the best stories was at the bus stop in Conyers...you will have to read the book! The way he described the subtle racism is very memorable.  John Howard Griffin even stayed overnight at the Monastery.  He described it perfectly...that all the worries of the world just melted away as he went slowly up the driveway with the large magnolia trees lining the way.  After all that he had experienced, he was warmly welcomed by the monks.  It seems a shame that all the kids watching the news just now will see this woman who gave "misinformation" about her race and none of them will know of John Howard Griffin and his efforts to "walk in another man's shoes".   

(NOTE: Since I wrote this post, I found another post that I found very interesting.  You may find it here.)



Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.



28 comments:

  1. Who first came to my mind when reading what you say about Griffin was Günter Wallraff, a German undercover journalist who regularly shakes up the German public by publishing his experiences made as part of a socially disadvantaged group. Among others, in the 1980s, he lived as a Turkish worker in Germany, and in 2009, as a black man. The latter made him the target of heavy criticism. Black people said he was using oppressed minorities to get money and attention. I can not say whether this is justified, but all his books and articles have given rise to much public discussion, which certainly is a good thing. I've even found an English wikipedia article about him here.

    I very much like the idea of you sitting on one of those benches, crocheting away!

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    1. I clicked on the article about Gunter Walraff. I find him very interesting and inspiring myself. The same kind of things were also said about John Howard Griffin. I read that he received death threats and went to Mexico to finish writing his book. Blacks told him it was ridiculous for him to think that he could understand what it meant to be black in the South just by riding buses for a few weeks and whites, well, you can imagine the kinds of things that they said to a white man doing this. I am not very good at understanding the complexity of an issue but I am a very good judge of character. I think that John Howard Griffin did a very noble thing and that more people should know of him and his book.

      I think that in a recent storm, lightning must have struck that tree on the left of the bench, it looked dead to me, it was totally brown. As the morning passed, the sun kept me moving from the right side of the bench, until I was as far to the left of that bench as I could get I loved having the sun light up my flying fingers but hey, it got TOO much after just a few minutes! :-)

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  2. A beautiful and peaceful place to work on your crochet. I think that prayer is so inspirational. xx

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    1. It is a truly special place!
      And I love that prayer too. I first read it in the book "Karen" by Marie Killilea...she was a devout Catholic and she talked of the saints as if they were dear friends.

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  3. The peace prayer at the end is one of my favorites. So nice you have a place to go like that .

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    1. "To be understood, as to understand"...that is the line that came to my mind as I was typing this post and that is why I have it here.
      You would love the Monastery, I am thankful to live so close to it.

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  4. What a special place your local monastery is! And how i wish we had someplace similar nearby.

    It's lovely to hear that the monks welcomed Mr. Griffin. Sometimes even those who are supposed to know better do not do better.

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    1. Do you know, I just read a bit more about him and he was a former monk himself. Such an interesting man, I wish more knew about him.

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  5. I read this book when I was a student at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, between 1963 and '65. It was electrifying! Of course, the name Conyers did not mean anything to me at the time, though from now on it will always mean the place where you live, Kay! And a monastery is always sacred space and sacred time......I love to think of you crocheting under those trees. I may have to find that book again, though I remember being very shocked by it at the time.

    (Oh, dear, I just corrected a typo where I saw I had written I was in college in 1063. Well, I may be old, but not quite in that category!)

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    1. I also read this book in college, when I was 19. It was not part of a course or anything, I just found it the library and it looked interesting to me. I have never forgotten it.
      It was so peaceful to sit there and crochet, I wanted to pass that serenity along to you!
      (It has been years since I was in college too...1076, it would be for me! LOL)

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  6. Black Like Me was required reading when I was in high school. It is a look at the overt and subtle mistreatment of black people in the United States in the 50's and 60's. Many people disagree with me but I do believe great strides have been made to try to correct this. Much more needs to be done but it is better. The Monastery does look peaceful.

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    1. I had never heard of the book, just found it in the library my freshman year in college. As you say, much more needs to be done. Trying to talk openly and honestly would be a good start. Peace be with you!

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  7. I remember reading "Black Like Me" when I was in high school. Didn't they make a movie of it too?

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    1. Hey Debra! I found that out when after I posted this! I have never seen the movie but I would like to.

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  8. The monastery looks nice. Not read that book but there was a poster recently on Facebook which made me think and laugh at the same time. Europe is currently getting massive amounts of people crossing the Med from Africa every day looking for a better life and everyone seems powerless to stop it. The poster was an Aborigine in traditional pose with the words. "Homeland getting invaded by Boat People? Join the Club. Not so funny now is it?"
    Half of Scotland came originally from Ireland and they were treated as second rate citizens as well with "No dogs or Irish" signs in hotels and folk down at the docks trying to turn back the boats. You are a one person clothing industry in your area. Very productive.

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    1. There is a similar thing here...a poster of a Native American saying,...oh heck, I can't remember, but it was funny!
      A one person clothing industry...I wonder how many people even use the things that make. Oh well, I like making them anyway!

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  9. Why this woman thought she would get away with passing as black is a mystery to me. Looks like the monastery was a great way to spend a day. We have a Greek Monastery near us but I've never been to see it. I was suppose to go on a tour with the hospital but the monks were all sick and it was cancelled...kind of ironic I think...anyway have a great week and thanks again for a very informative post!

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    1. It's strange, isn't it? I know we will hear more about it, but hey, either you lied or you didn't!
      I wonder, can you visit the Monastery there yourself? The Monastery here is very welcoming to all. I can see they wouldn't want you if they were all sick though! Too bad the nurses couldn't go and help them!
      Hope you have a great week ahead, my friend. Peace.

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  10. I read about that young woman and saw reports on the news....how silly of her to pretend to be what she isn't. She could still do all the good work by being herself. Let's hope she comes to realise that.

    I'm sure the peace and beauty of your surrounds shows in your crochet, Kay. :)

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    1. Hey, we are supposed to be the HUMAN race, we forget that.
      I hope that the peace and beauty goes into the work of my hands!

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  11. That monastery and its trees sound so wonderful.
    You don't have to be black to be persecuted. Jews have been persecuted, too.

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    1. After I wrote this post, I read some more about John Howard Griffin. He was studying in France at the outbreak of World War 2, and worked for the French Resistance and helped to smuggle Jews into England.
      Many are persecuted for their beliefs, their color, for any number of reasons...

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  12. How wonderful to craft in such calm and serene surroundings.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. It was wonderful, the work of my hands in such a setting, it was a joy. xx

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  13. I had never heard of John Howard Griffin - sounds like an inspiring man. The monastery looks so serene...

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  14. I had never heard of John Howard Griffin - sounds like an inspiring man. The monastery looks so serene...

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    1. I have read that there was a documentary done about his life but I have never seen it. I hope to see it one day!
      The Monastery is beautiful. The serenity of it is extraordinary. And it was startling to read of this same peace in the book "Black Like Me".

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  15. That's one of my favorite prayers.

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