I have seen the Great American Eclipse.
I went to the public library
where young and old
were sharing the glasses
that keep us safe.
But also this eclipse –
my friend will be deported Wednesday,
the one who rings the church bell,
always is generous
when anyone needs money,
has no criminal record,
speaks English, will be taken
from his medical care.
Also the leader of our nation
affirms Nazis,
does not condemn racism,
protect indigenous lands
national parks, or the earth.
At the library,
a man of eighty hands me vision.
I pass it on to a ten-year old.
Our hands touch
and this is what keeps us
from fear
when darkness passes over.
Gifts in Open Hands 
Ugliness intrudes in moments of great beauty. Bigotry rears its head in times of great equanimity.
Amen.
Hi, Maren,
I’ve attached the words to a song my wife and I wrote in the week following Charlottesville. I was not only shattered by the events that took place, but also at the way a few of my friends responded. There was so much anger that seemed to be channeled into rage rather than into ways to confront without stoking the flames. I had to wonder what my faith called me to do. And some of my best wondering comes in songs.
The song has a slow, steady beat with little ornament. It sings differently than it scans on paper. I may try top record it this fall. Anyone who is interested is free to use the words — just cite us.
Thanks for all you do,
Jerry Hebenstreit
>
Hi Jerry, I would love to see and share your song but this wordpress blog cannot receive attachments. Can you please send it to the parallel email giftsinopenhands@gmail.com. And thank you so much.
The worst things imaginable…will they bring out the best in us? Are we rising to the occasion? Sometimes I think so. Sometimes not. Thanks for your writings
Linda Cetrulo Colorado
On Mon, Aug 21, 2017 at 4:05 PM, Gifts in Open Hands wrote:
> Maren posted: “I have seen the Great American Eclipse. I went to the > public library where young and old were sharing the glasses that keep us > safe. But also this eclipse – my friend will be deported Wednesday, the one > who rings the church bell, always i” >
You are very welcome. Especially when someone like you, a dancer, lifts her hands, we all find ourselves rising.
Hi Maren: Great message, but I have one question. The eighty year old man hands you vision and you pass it on. Please explain “vision”. Thanks, Nat
On Mon, Aug 21, 2017 at 6:05 PM, Gifts in Open Hands wrote:
> Maren posted: “I have seen the Great American Eclipse. I went to the > public library where young and old were sharing the glasses that keep us > safe. But also this eclipse – my friend will be deported Wednesday, the one > who rings the church bell, always i” >
I literally meant the eclipse / solar protection glasses that allowed us to see the phenomenon of the solar eclipse but I meant more the passing through the generations of those who can see safely and clearly a future for us all.