Children Holding Hands, Chicago, IL
I recently ran across one
of my favorite photos showing children at Millennial Park in Chicago on a field
trip helping each other stay safe. The scene immediately caught my
attention and I had to walk over and quickly snap this image from behind so
that they would remain anonymous. I was
moved by this image and photo of children protecting one another and walking
hand-in hand all the while learning how to achieve progress and harmony in the
process. The image is even more sublime
to see the smallest child walking securely between her two older classmates.
Later the scene called to mind a quote from the 13th-century poet Rumi:
"We're all just walking each
other home."
I sent this image to our church staff because I’ve been troubled
by all the polarization and discontent in our culture lately in hopes that it might
be shared with others, like this post.
Our Senior Pastor sent the following response that stirred the depths of
my soul:
“At a recent service commemorating the 40th anniversary
of the Greensboro Klan/Nazi Massacre, Rev. Frank Dew (a long time Presbyterian
Pastor in GSO) told a short story of a search for a missing girl in winter
time. Rescue teams scoured the area the afternoon and early evening the
first day of the search. They feared for her in the bitter cold nighttime
temps. As darkness fell, they resolved to resume their search first thing
in the morning. As they gathered at dawn to begin again, someone
suggested they join hands as they moved through the wood and fields.
About 3 hours in, they came upon her lifeless body in the dense
undergrowth. Grieving the loss, one rescuer commented, ‘We
should’ve joined hands sooner.’ Indeed.”
"Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder." --Rumi
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