6,000 Miles of Sabbath

10 Nov, 2011

A clear moon ascends above the Capitol Building in the DC twilight. The gears, springs, and axles of the political machine have slowed, and only the most romantic tourists and dedicated fitness buffs remain under the cooling evening of the Mall. My mind turns to the present with its footing in the past.

The odometer reads 6,000 miles, but the number fails to capture the fullness of this moment. There is something to living in the present that captures both the past and the future. The present is never wholly isolated. Rather, each moment has the breath of eternity. To put it in less cheesy terms, consider this line from Marilynne Robinson’s novel Gilead:

“Every day is holy, but the Sabbath is set apart so that the holiness of time can be experienced.“

The same goes for the Carbon Sabbath. While this is one year and one bike with one rider, these are merely figures for the thousands of people involved in the greater community—including you! Each person or day or ride is connected to the strand of others, and their meaning is realized in community. To capture that wholeness, at times we must celebrate individual moments.

Thanks to Kristen Schenk at the Incarnation Parish and the Casa Alma Catholic Worker house for hosting a great evening! This is the Brown family, whose home is the center of the Casa Alma. If you'd like to connect with this great community, check out: http://cvillecatholicworker.blogspot.com/

While the Brown family signed the bike, I had the pleasure of playing their charango for the group packed into their house.

Thanks to Paul McCullough and Ashleigh Elser for hosting me! The blessing was mutual, compadres!

In honor of this benchmark, I want to take time to thank you all for participating in this journeying community. Whether you have been present for a discussion, hosted me, donated online, kept up on the website, or have just joined this adventure, I thank you all for turning your focus to the love of God at work at a time of unprecedented environmental peril.

It has been a true adventure through American Christianity. Our community is comprised of Episcopalians, Catholics, Amish, Mennonites, Evangelicals, Emergent, monastics, non-denominational, Lutherans, and a variety of other traditions. We are Native American, African American, Asian, European; farmers, ranchers, doctors, lawyers, union laborers, unemployed, theologians, craftspeople, homemakers, clergy, lay people; impoverished, middle class, wealthy—all rich in the economy of love. We have seen deserts, vineyards, mountains, oceans, lakes, streams, pastures, and fields. We know Amish, cowboys, Indians, surfers, coal miners, loggers, and gardeners. We speak to the beauty of America united in the love of God.

It is my hope that we can turn to this union and away from whatever distracts us. We face immense suffering as the reality of climate change becomes more and more apparent. In order to respond effectively, we will need to remain focused on the love that is the source of our being and to show that love to our neighbors in need. Each of us has different abilities that will enable this love in action.

 

For a taste of the diversity we’ve experienced on this trip and some of the moments that have slipped through the cracks, check out this clip of the Appalachian music at the Fayetteville, WV United Methodist Church:

As I write this, it has just been announced that President Obama has delayed the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline! Many believe that this will effectively end the proposal—at least until after the 2012 election. To read more, check out: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/11/us/politics/administration-to-delay-pipeline-decision-past-12-election.html?hp for this front page article in the New York Times. I want to thank everyone in the Carbon Sabbath community for putting your faith into action on this issue. Some of you were arrested in front of the White House. Many of you voiced your opinions in various hearings in Nebraska with the State Department. I had the pleasure of seeing many of those Nebraskan folks at Sunday’s rally around the White House. Great work, everyone! Your faithful action is making a difference.

On Sunday, November 6th, I joined 12,000 other folks at a rally to support Obama in what we hoped would be his opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline. I met friends from Yale and friends from the road. Now, we know that our voices were heard.

I had the pleasure of rallying with some good friends: Allen and Debbie Johnson from WV's Christians for the Mountains; Kristy and Russ Powell; Justin Haaheim. Great!

More YDS friends, including Kelly Forbush and Katie Salisbury!

I also saw Becca Bruce-- mother of Katie Helmstadter and John Helmiere-- and her husband Tod!

Later that night, Justin Haaheim and I ran into Bill McKibben as he was leaving a party for 350.org. He happily signed the bike as a representative of the day. In addition to being one of the leading writers on climate change, Bill also teaches Sunday school in his hometown and is well-versed in theological issues. Great to have his addition to the bike!

Back in August, these two fine folks were arrested at this very spot while expressing their love of neighbor.

Today, we celebrate; tomorrow, we serve.

Until we meet again
More joyful
Than we thought possible

Thanks to the great folks at the JVC LDP-- one of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps sites!


http://cvillecatholicworker.blogspot.com/