Mindful Eating Habits Bind Us to All Creation

Growing up, my mother planted a small vegetable garden in our backyard.  I enjoyed working alongside her in the dirt.  I watched with fascination as the plants grew.  Even more, I loved picking fresh produce and carrying it indoors in a basket for my family to eat. 

 

One day, my mother sent me to harvest our first carrots.  I ran outdoors firmly grasping the green leaves and pulled the vegetable from the earth.  Only to discover that carrots do not come in bunches!  From the packages of carrots in our fridge, somehow I had assumed that under each carrot top was a whole bunch not just a single orange root.

 

For most of us, food comes from the supermarket.  We have become accustomed to choosing our meals from the shelves of the store often packaged in a way that has little resemblance to any living thing.  With our busy lives, many of us choose frozen dinners and prepared meals over the raw ingredients.

 

Each food item in the United States typically travels 1,500 miles before it reaches our plates.  This includes all the produce that we can enjoy year round and processed foods.   

 

Many of us treat food like fuel, eating to fill up our tanks in order to keep active.  A whole industry of fast food has built up around our desire for convenience allowing us to eat on the run.  Many Americans eat in the car en route to another destination.

 

Eating becomes a religious experience when we are mindful of the source of our food and our interdependence with other living beings.  Truly it is a miracle that seed, soil, sun, and water contribute to what becomes food.  The food that we eat is essential to our lives nourishing and sustaining us.

 

This fall, we held a Harvest Dinner where church members were invited to bring dishes made of local ingredients.  If we were unable to find a local product, the challenge was to at least to identify the source.  This was an eye-opening exercise!  The Farmers Market provided many locally-grown and raised staples.  In cooking, we had to consider where in the world our spices came from.

 

This lesson about eating locally or at least being mindful about the source of food has stuck with me.  Choosing natural ingredients over processed ones are healthy choices both for me and our world.  Despite the temptation of junk food, real food is more deeply satisfying.

 

My family has decided to plant a small vegetable garden this summer.  Our yard is small but there is a patch out back where the sun shines brightly for at least six hours a day.  I am looking forward to working the soil and planting.

 

I have also decided to subscribe to Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).  Simmons Farm in Middletown helps build a direct relationship between people, food, and the farm.  Through a subscription, we will receive a share of certified organic vegetables every week during the months of June through October.  This will give us the opportunity to experience the workings of a farm more closely and to eat in rhythm with the season.  If you are interested in learning more about Simmons Farm drop by 1942 West Main Road or call 848-9910.

 

Of course, not everyone has the resources to plant a garden or to choose organic foods.  Many children around the world and close to home will go to bed hungry tonight.  Saturday morning, April 26^th is the annual Aquidneck Island CROP WALK Against Hunger.  This is an opportunity to join an interfaith movement in our community by walking three or ten miles.  The funds raised will go to hunger relief globally and locally. For more information, check out www.cropwalk.org.

 

The word “religion” comes from the Latin root “religare” meaning “to bind back.”  Mindful eating is religious because it binds us back to our wholeness with all of creation.  Instead of simply refueling, let us make healthier choices that awaken our sense of reverence and gratitude for living.  This type of nourishment will feed our sense of joy and generosity!

Many clergy members agree evolution, faith can co-exist

In the first Republican Presidential debate, the candidates were asked, "Is there anyone on the stage who does not believe in evolution?" Of the ten candidates who were running at the time, three raised their hands: Kansas Senator Sam Brownback, Colorado Representative Tom Tancredo, and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee. The fact that this question was posed to politicians running for our nation’s highest office and that one of the candidates who denied evolution has won in eight states, tells us something about the role science and religion plays in our country.

Of course, Mike Huckabee is also an ordained Southern Baptist minister. When pressed if he believed that God created the Heavens and the Earth in six twenty-four hour days six thousand years ago, he simply stated that he did not know exactly when or how life began because he was not there. For Huckabee, either God created life or it happened by accident. The following statement was met with applause, "If anyone wants to believe they are descended from a primate, they are welcome to it."

On January 26, Ken Miller, Biology Professor at Brown University gave a lecture on "God, Darwin, and Design" at the Newport Art Museum. Professor Miller told the packed audience, that if any of us bumps into Mike Huckabee we should let him know that not only are we descended from a primate, we are primates. Humans were classified as primates well before Darwin’s theory of evolution emerged.

Despite the way Darwin is portrayed by some as a godless man, the truth is not that simple. Darwin entered Christ’s College at Cambridge intent on becoming a clergyman. The professors who most influenced him were both ordained ministers and scientific scholars. More than the study of scripture, botany and geology were the subjects that captured Darwin’s attention.

At the age of 22, Charles Darwin joined the voyage of the HMS Beagle. The mission was to chart the southern coast of South America. During the five-year expedition, he kept detailed journals and methodically collected samples of fossils and living organisms; sending many specimens and letters about his findings back to England.

The commonly held view at the time of the expedition was that each species was created by God to be perfectly suited to the conditions of a particular place. Yet, on the Galapagos, the species differed from island to island. Since the islands had similar conditions, why did such variety exist? For example, there was an incredible variety of finches and tortoises with different shells. By observing the distribution of Galapagos organisms, Darwin became increasingly convinced that species are not immutable. Animals and plants from the mainland evolved into unique types over time.

Charles Darwin was not the first evolutionary thinker but he was the first to articulate the mechanism behind it. Quite simply plants and animals have more offspring than are needed to replace the parents. The offspring of a set of parents are not all alike. The offspring with variations most suited to the environment will survive leading to natural selection and evolution of species over time.

In the words of Charles Darwin, "Life on earth has been generated over billions of years in a single branching tree-the Tree of Life". Why do some people still view evolution as a dangerous idea one hundred and fifty years after Darwin published his theory? Evolution calls into question the authority of the Bible as a literal document. Evolution challenges the worldview that human beings have a unique relationship with God, superior to other living beings like plants and animals. Evolution also challenges the idea of a detailed Divine plan.

I am happy to report that an increasing number of clergy find no contradiction between evolution and our faith. Since the Fall of 2004, Michael Zimmerman, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Butler University has launched the Clergy Letter Project encouraging clergy of many denominations to publicly express their "respect for evolutionary theory as a core component of human knowledge, fully harmonious with religious faith." 11,183 signatures have been collected including my own. There is also an increasing dialogue between scientists and clergy seeking to heal the rift between science and religion.

When I think of all the growth and change that led to us being here in this moment, the sacredness of life is magnified. My view of God is not called into question because plants, animals and humans were not created perfectly at the beginning of time. On the contrary, the structures and dynamic relatedness of life is inspiring. Our challenge as a species is to more fully realize our relatedness in the way we live our lives—to do so calls on the best in both science and religion.

What does Confucius say?

 

The Master said “The rule of virtue can be compared to the Pole Star which commands the homage of the multitude of stars without leaving its place.” (2:1)

 

The Master is none other than Confucius.  The passage is from The Analects, a collection of Confucius’ sayings.  Originally compiled by his students in 497 B.C., the philosophy of Confucius continues to inform contemporary East Asian society influencing both political culture and spiritual life.  Confucius’ sayings offer guidance for living a moral life that remains relevant for us today.

 

Book 2, Chapter 1 touches upon several essential ideas within Confucian thought.  This saying is attributed to Confucius himself which suggests its importance.  It is concerned with the moral nature of a ruler.  If a ruler has a virtuous character, then the subjects will naturally follow.  Proper government is by example or moral persuasion not through force or coercion.  The use of celestial imagery gives a sense of the cosmic order after which human beings should pattern themselves.  Confucius presents a model of Harmony in which Heaven, Earth, and Humanity work in an orderly fashion.  He asserts that by following moral principles and customs the ideal society is attainable.

 

Confucius was not satisfied with the moral character of government.  The missing element was “virtue”.  Much of The Analects is devoted to describing the nature of “virtue”.  The main principles include: benevolence, righteousness, wisdom, courage, trustworthiness, and filial piety.  If these qualities are present in rulers, the welfare of the people is guaranteed.

 

Unfortunately, the moral character of American government is questionable.  There is growing concern that the current Administration has deceived the American people.  The United States is viewed with suspicion and even hatred by much of the world.  Although American leaders often talk about the values of freedom, peace, and justice, some of our actions cast our integrity as a nation into doubt. 

 

The American people are looking for a leader who fits Confucius’ description like the Pole Star, a beacon of hope.  This is one of the most wide-open Presidential elections in recent history.  During the debates, candidates often become derailed from the issues by sniping at each other.  Our leaders need to move beyond divisiveness to realize our greater unity and to address substantive matters.      

 

The Master said, “When you meet someone better than yourself, turn your thoughts to becoming his equal.  When you meet someone not as good as you are, look within and examine your own self.”  (4:17)

 

The moral imperative is not to root out the short-comings of other people but to continually strive to better one’s self.   According to Confucius, individuals should strive to improve their characters by emulating those people who are “better” or “of superior quality”.  When encountering a person who is “not as good”, the instruction is to “look within and examine your own self”.  Our central concern should always be self-cultivation. 

 

Our actions are important.  Our words have weight.   Our thoughts also matter as they govern our behavior and attitudes.  As a spiritual practice, all people (even political candidates!) should strive to cultivate virtue by paying attention to our judgments about others and shifting focus back to oneself. 

 

Try this simple practice in the week ahead.  When you think someone is better than you, do not put yourself down instead think how you can emulate his or her positive qualities.  When you think other people are lesser than you, instead of dismissing them or dwelling on their faults, consider why that judgment or frustration arose within you and how you will move forward with virtue like benevolence, courage, and trustworthiness. 

 

In order to achieve greater harmony than we have known, each one of us needs to be engaged with the upcoming election, participate in public service, and foremost set our own hearts in order.              For as Confucius says,

If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character.

If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home.

If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation.

If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.

Ad Campaign on Buses Support Same Sex Marriages

In December, the Religious Coalition for Marriage Equality launched a bus ad campaign that will run through the month of January. On the side of ten RIPTA buses is a photograph of local religious leaders who support the rights of same-gender couples to be legally married in our state. I am proud to be pictured among twenty-five colleagues of different denominations alongside the caption, “Rhode Island Religious Leaders Supporting Same-Gender Marriage”.

Why would clergy put a large group photo on the side of public buses? This is part of our larger effort, to work toward justice and equality in our state. Ninety-eight religious leaders have signed the Declaration of Religious Support for Same-Gender Marriage. As religious people, we strongly believe that same-gender couples deserve the same rights as opposite gender couples. The ninety-eight signers are from different denominations including: American Baptist, Episcopal, Friends, Jewish, Methodist, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, and Unitarian Universalist. As people of faith, we are taking public action in support of the right and freedom of marriage in Rhode Island. We want to counter the common misconception that all religions oppose homosexuality and same gender marriage.



We are calling on state officials to recognize that freedom of religion and civil rights are core values upon which our state was founded. The Declaration states, “As leaders in faith communities we know there is a diversity of religious voices and interpretation of historical texts on many matters including sexuality, sexual expression and relationships. We affirm the right of freedom of conscience and differing perspectives of religious traditions in the matter of same-gender marriage. But, with the many diverse, nuanced and multilayered interpretations and teaching of sacred texts we firmly believe it is improper for the state, and those who hold civic public office, to impose on society any theological position. We call upon the state officials to remember that Rhode Island was founded by Roger Williams as a community open to religious diversity. We assert it is the state’s responsibility to remain theologically neutral when in discussion about defining civil rights, relationships and responsibilities.”

Since 1970, the Unitarian Universalist Association has performed services of union for same sex couples. As a minister, I approach gay and lesbian couples with the same joy and respect as heterosexual couples. During premarital counseling, I ask all couples how they met, why they love their partner, and what led to their decision to vow a lifetime of commitment. Couples, whether of the same or opposite gender, speak of their joy in finding a person with whom to share their lives and how being in a committed relationship strengthens them in facing the joys and trials of life.

My prayer is that Rhode Island will offer the privileges and protections of marriage to all residents of our State. Despite the intolerance expressed by many, a marriage is not limited by gender, for truly it is a holy covenant between two people who vow to love and care for one another. It is my solemn prayer that this injustice will be rectified.

For more information on this ad campaign, check out: http://www.marriageequalityri.org/

Read more on the Unitarian Universalists Association's support of Equal Rights for Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender People.

You can learn more about Channing Church at http://www.channingchurch.org/

Theodore Parker: A Life of Reform

Theodore Parker: A Life of Reform

 

What can we do to make things better?  Foremost, we need to believe that it is possible to make things better, to reform society for the common good.  When my faith wavers, I often turn to my spiritual ancestors for inspiration.  Unitarian minister, Theodore Parker (1810-1860) lived the charge of his friend Ralph Waldo Emerson, “What is man born for, but to be a reformer?”

 

“What can we do to make things better?” was Theodore Parker’s constant refrain.  He asked this question again and again to the crowds that assembled to hear him while at the same time searching his own mind and heart.

 

Parker and fellow Transcendentalists believed that all people are endowed with God-given abilities to bring forth truth, beauty, and justice.  This means that not only the politicians have the answers to the problems of our times.  In fact, the politicians may be more clouded from the truth.  Parker would assert that every person has knowledge that can benefit the common good.  It is part of our very make-up.  We are born with the ability to discern right from wrong, as long as we listen to the still small voice within.

 

Theodore Parker began his ministry as a scholar and a pastor.  As he listened to the “voice of God in the soul” or “conscience”, he became increasingly a reformer.  He was a close friend of George Ripley and so often visited the utopian community of Brook Farm, interested in the intellectual exchange and new forms of living being tried there.  In the end, Parker concluded that although Brook Farm might have been a success for individuals, really the members were escaping the ills of society.  The experimental community did not advance society, solve problems or reform institutions.

 

Parker spoke out about issues of labor, property, war, education, women’s rights, and temperance.  He was a tireless abolitionist speaking in Faneuil Hall, serving as a stop on the Underground Railroad, and even marrying escaped slaves.  Theodore Parker had the wisdom to say in response to Biblical passages often cited in support of slavery, that if the Bible supported slavery, the Bible was wrong.  He pressed people to see a Higher Law than the superstition of religious dogma.  Parker also pressed people to see a Higher Law than economics and property.

 

What can we do to make things better?  We too must listen to “the voice of God in the soul” or “conscience” welling up within us to distinguish right from wrong.  We must believe in a Higher Law than individualism and materialism.

 

We are intelligent people.  We can understand the interests of corporations.  We know why jobs have been outsourced.  We know why manufacturing is now parceled out so that the companies can deliver the cheapest products to Americans, the top-consumers of the world.  However, the interests of these ever-larger corporations operating in a global market should not rise above the worth of the human family.  The cost of jobs lost to the mechanization of labor is too high.  The cost of food and toys being manufactured by workers with few rights and questionable practices is too high.  Private ownership of water is against Higher Laws. 

 

What can we do to make things better?  Foremost, we must believe in democracy and the principles of freedom.  In a speech at the New England Anti-Slavery Convention in Boston, Parker said, “There is what I call the American idea. . . . This idea demands, as the proximate organization thereof, a democracy,--that is, a government of all the people, by all the people, for all the people; of course, a government of the principles of eternal justice, the unchanging law of God; for shortness' sake I will call it the idea of Freedom.”  This speech actually inspired President Abraham Lincoln.  Now more than ever, we need to preserve “a government of all the people, by all the people, for all the people”.  After all, what are we born for, but to be reformers?

 

Rev. Dr. Carl Scovel dedicates Channing portrait

For many years, a ghostly black and white photograph of William Ellery Channing (1780-1842) looked down from over the fireplace in the Parish Hall of Channing Memorial Church. The image of the Unitarian minister reminded the congregation of our unique connection to the Newport native who defined American Unitarianism in the early nineteenth century. However, whenever I looked into his face, I could not help but think he looked sad and weary.

Last year, I was approached by the Rev. Dr. Carl Scovel who inquired if our church had a Channing portrait by Spiriodione Gambardella. When I told him about our photograph, Carl explained that he had a copy of the painting that he would like to entrust to the care of a congregation bearing Channing’s name. I took the opportunity pay a visit to Rev. Scovel and see the painting first hand. How refreshing to see William Ellery Channing in color! I was delighted to discover Channing had blue eyes. The portrait has a vibrancy that our photo did not convey.

In fact, this was the one likeness with which Channing himself was satisfied. In a letter to his son, dated 1835, Channing complained of existing paintings of him by Gilbert Stuart, Chester Harding and Charles C. Ingham, as well as a pencil sketch by Edward G. Malbone and a bust by Persico: "I am certainly not vain of my exterior. My countenance would not make me many friends, I fear. What has troubled me in my different portraits is, not that they have not given me a more intellectual expression, but that so little benevolence has beamed from my features. I have learned with the Apostle, to prefer charity to all knowledge; and if I am to be handed down to posterity, I should be pleased to speak from the stone or canvass, or rather to breathe from it, good-will to mankind."

Channing wrote to his son in 1838, "Mr. Gambardella has succeeded in his work. My friends are entirely satisfied with the picture. It is not only a good likeness, but a meritorious work of art. After so many unsuccessful attempts, this poor face is faithfully transferred to canvas, and, on the whole, is better worth looking at than I supposed."

Two copies were made of the original by Gambardella, which is owned by Harvard Divinity School. One copy was made in 1867 by Darius Cobb (1834-1903) and Cyrius Cobb (1834-1919) twin brothers who often worked together is owned by Arlington Street Church in Boston, the congregation William Ellery Channing served for his entire ministry.

The artist of the second copy was a contemporary of the Cobb brothers but remains unknown. However the painting holds a special place in the history of liberal religion as it hung in the study of the Rev. Dr. Dana McLean Greeley who was the first President of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Dana Greeley was also Carl Scovel’s father-in-law. Since Carl inherited the painting, he felt that it should be hung in a church dedicated to Channing. The painting was cleaned and the gilt frame restored by Peter Williams’ Museum Services in Boston who also happens to be a Unitarian Universalist.

It is truly an honor to receive a painting that holds such an important place in the history of our liberal religious movement. As a part of the service on Sunday, November 4th, the Rev. Dr. Carl Scovel will preach and the portrait of William Ellery Channing will be dedicated and hung in our Sanctuary. All are welcome to this historic and meaningful event!

UPDATE: Below is a photo of the Rev. Dr. Carl Scovel and the Rev. Amy Freedman in front of the statue of William Ellery Channing facing Newport's Channing Memorial Church.

"You're a Uni-what?" video

Below is a link to the video that I made with my husband Peter this summer. This short film was made during his film/tv studies through Boston University's Center for Digital Imaging Arts.

In this video we explore common misconceptions people have about our faith. If you would like to share this video with friends you may direct them to Peter's UU information site, www.uufaq.com. It is designed for people new to Unitarian Universalism.

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st5Pv3lsG60

Seeing clearly takes mind as well as eyes

Moving through the world without fully perceiving is both common and dangerous. Even with our eyes open, it is possible to not really see just like it is possible to hear without really listening. Our minds are often preoccupied with our own thoughts which keep us from truly connecting with the world around us.

For example, as I was driving through the Point section on my way to church, a white SUV started flashing blue Police lights behind me. Thinking it only needed to pass, I pulled over finding to my dismay that the car stopped directly behind me. I have no recollection of doing so but the Police Officer informed me that I drove through a stop sign on Warner Street. He took my license and made me sit in the car long enough to consider the consequences of my actions. Luckily, I got off with only a warning.

As I pulled away from the curb and back into the flow of traffic, I was much more attentive to the signs, traffic signals, and other cars. Being pulled over was a wake-up call from my racing thoughts. Suddenly, I became fully present to what I was doing. The tasks and people could wait until I arrived safely at my destination. It only takes one accident or close call to remind us how vigilant we should be while driving or simply moving through the world around us.

When our minds are preoccupied, it is possible not only for us to miss things entirely but also to jump to conclusions based on prior experience instead of the evidence before us. This is dangerous not only because we can drive straight through stop signs without noticing but because not really seeing affects our actions and the lives of those around us.

It is possible to improve our observation skills. Amy Herman has designed an observation training program at the Frick Collection in New York City. Thanks to Herman’s unique insights as a former federal prosecutor and a current museum curator, the Fifth Avenue mansion hung with masterpieces by Rembrandt, Bellini, and El Greco, has become a training ground for New York’s finest!

The New York City Police Department sends captains, sergeants, and Department executives to participate in observation training at the Frick Collection. The officers are given a limited amount of time to examine a work of art and then to articulate what they observe. This practice of taking in the entire canvass, foreground and background as well as being aware of personal cultural biases when viewing any scene or image helps the law enforcement officers when they approach a crime scene. A similar program is also offered for medical students whose profession depends on their ability to diagnose patients. In both of these cases it is important that the officer or doctor be aware of their own assumptions in order to see the truth more clearly and respond accordingly.

No matter whether our profession is in law enforcement or medicine, education or the military, counseling or parenting, business or retail, art or real estate, the ability to see clearly is essential to live with integrity. Above all, improving our powers of observation is actually opening our ability to connect with the world in the present moment instead of viewing things only through the cloud of our own assumptions.

I challenge you to expand your observation skills. Take time to look at objects and people around you with new eyes. Practice the art of observation at a museum or really look at the details found in a picture book. Train your eye to take in both the background and foreground of the scene before you. Talk to other people about what they see. Walk through the world like it is a work of art. Becoming more mindful will enable us to move through the world with greater integrity, clarity, and care.

Summer Service Series at Channing Church Exploring the Seven Deadly Sins!

This Summer Channing Church is offering a series of services exploring the Seven Deadly Sins. This is an unusual subject for a Unitarian Universalist congregation. As religious liberals, we tend to focus more on the life-affirming values of freedom, reason, and tolerance. This theme was selected as a way for us to consider the relevance of these ancient teachings on our contemporary lives. At Channing Church we are blessed with church members who enjoy delving into meaningful subjects. The speakers in this series have unique insights to share from their own experience.

What are the Seven Deadly Sins? Early Christian teachings categorized human vices. The following sins were considered to cause eternal damnation unless the sinner confessed and sought forgiveness: Pride, Envy, Wrath, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, and Sloth.

Through out our lives and through the course of our days we are visited by these impulses. When we are not mindful they step in to govern our thoughts, words and actions.

The Seven Deadly Sins are illustrations of the perils of excess. There are many works of art that show grotesque characters as the epitome of each sin. Often they have exaggerated facial features and bawdy postures. In the Middle Ages, the Seven were featured in religious dramas that enacted conflicts between vices and virtues.

The Seven Deadly Sins are not just a quaint relic of the past. Think for a moment about modern entertainment. Certainly the popular television series “The Sopranos” had its share of Pride, Envy, Anger, Lust, Gluttony, Greed, and Sloth. Perhaps this also explains why people tune in to Jerry Springer and “Desperate Housewives”. There is laughter of recognition and a release of our pent-up anxieties when we see the conflict between vice and virtue acted out whether in a book or on the stage or screen.

Unitarian Universalists do not generally spend a great deal of time talking about sin. I am glad that our liberal religious movement has cast off guilt and shame as a motivation for being virtuous. However, in our affirmation of the worth and dignity of the individual, we often fail to acknowledge and remedy our own indulgences, transgressions, and wrongdoings. For anyone to act as if we are somehow above or beyond these universal human impulses, is true hubris. Appropriately enough, Pride is considered the first of the Seven Deadly Sins because egotism and self-centeredness keeps us from recognizing our own flaws and failings.

As my colleague, Forrest Church writes, “I define the word sin simply. It is anything that divides us: within ourselves; against our neighbor; from the ground of being, the god of all creation.” I find this definition helpful. It reminds me that “sin” is not just about judgment or shame from an outside source. “Sin” is that which divides me within myself, against other people, and from the ground of all being, which some call God or the Sacred or the Interdependent Web of Life.

We must find the path of health and wholeness not only for our own souls but in relationship with the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. Each of the Seven Deadly Sins are misguided attempts at happiness in which our own cravings and desires blinds us to the true source of happiness which is being in harmony and balance with the universe.

All are welcome to attend the Summer series at Channing Church. Each service will offer music, reflections, and ideas for how these basic drives impact our choices and relationships. As you can imagine, facing our flaws requires both honesty and a sense of humor. May we find ways to be more open with ourselves and one another about the thoughts, words and deeds that cause pain, and become more intentional on our spiritual path toward true happiness.

Howe's spirit is infused in Mother's Day

On the front pew of Channing Memorial Church there is a small bronze plaque engraved with the name Julia Ward Howe (1819-1910). On this weekend when many send cards and visit their mothers, it is fitting to pay tribute to a woman who is considered by some the founder of Mother’s Day.

Despite losing her mother at the age of five, Julia was a bright and spirited girl, known for her beauty and striking red hair. The Ward children had the most carefree time during the summer months staying with their grandparents in Newport, RI. They were allowed to run and play on Third Beach which was in sharp contrast to their strict upbringing in New York high society.

At a time when education was considered unwarranted for girls, Julia enjoyed attending a private school for young ladies. She thrived on her studies. Through out her lifetime she was a voracious reader and published several volumes of poetry.

Julia Ward married at the age of twenty-four, so much later than many of her contemporaries that there were whispers she might have become an old maid. Her husband was Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe, head of Perkins Institute for the Blind. Although he admired her intelligence, Samuel felt that Julia’s forthright and independent manner was unbecoming for his future wife. Upon his insistence, she agreed to give up her aspirations for a literary career. However, with the support of her brothers she retained her maiden name to be known as Julia Ward Howe instead of Mrs. Samuel Gridley Howe.

The Howes took up residence in Boston often entertaining statesmen, great thinkers and abolitionists. Julia learned to cook and clean without any domestic help, as well as caring for their six children. It was in Boston that Julia became a Unitarian and a close associate of the Rev. James Freeman Clarke.

When the Civil War broke out, Dr. Howe became a member of the Sanitary Commission. In 1861, Julia accompanied her husband on a trip to Washington along with Governor and Mrs. Andrews and the Rev. James Freeman Clarke. They visited with President Abraham Lincoln and attended a review of the Union troops.

During their long journey, they passed the time by singing songs. One was the popular ditty, “John Brown’s Body”. Her minister suggested that Julia write new lyrics to the stirring tune. That same night, she awoke from her hotel room bed and in one sitting wrote the words of the now famous Battle Hymn of the Republic. When she returned home, she submitted her verse to the Atlantic Monthly, which paid her $5 to publish her work anonymously. The song was widely sung both by soldiers in the battlefield and in public ceremonies. Julia Ward Howe received acclaim through out her life and was often called upon to recite her work for public gatherings. Even today, the Battle Hymn is often heard at ceremonial occasions.

As a part of the abolitionist movement and in support of the war effort, Julia worked closely with other women sewing clothes and bandages and organizing bazaars. After the Civil War, she was a leader in the Women’s Suffrage Movement, demonstrating that females are capable of so much more than housework and raising children. With the encouragement of the Rev. Charles Brooks, the first minister of the Unitarian church in Newport, she also began a full schedule of public speaking and preaching.

Julia Ward Howe first organized Mother’s Day in 1872 as a day dedicated to peace. Her motivation was quite different from the modern holiday. She felt that women as the bearers of children held a powerful position in the protection of human life from the violence of war. She organized an international campaign known as the Women’s Peace Crusade.

On this Mother’s Day, we can celebrate that American women have the right to vote, to education, to work outside the home, to publish openly, and to hold public office. In times of war, women are no longer limited to sewing and nursing but serve in the armed forces and government. However, we must also recognize that not all women enjoy equal status around the globe. We honor the countless mothers who have suffered the loss of their sons and daughters in war. Julia Ward Howe is a shining example of a woman who lived her convictions and strived through out her life to reform society to become more just and equitable. In the same way, let us find ways to become an ever more loving and inclusive world community.