by Rev. Joan Van Becelaere
Where to start?
Thursday and Friday in Phoenix have been frightening. And filled with hope. Exhausting. And Exhilarating. Tearful. And filled with the overwhelming power of love.
One image I will never forget is the picture of the people, most in yellow “Love” shirts, blocking the downtown Phoenix intersection. While they were being arrested, they linked arms and sang the ‘breathing meditation’ from the hymnal: ”When I breathe in, I breathe in peace. When I breathe out, I breathe out love.”
Tonight, we were in the middle of a Taize-style service of song and mediation when it was suddenly announced that Salvador Reza, human rights activist and leader of Puente, was arrested for a second time by Sherrif Arpaio. But there were no charges! The retaliatory nature of the arrest was obvious.
We cut the worship meeting short and organized to go out to Phoenix’s tent city where S. Reza was being held.
When Jerry (spouse) and I got there, things were getting started. Some people were beginning to smudge the demonstration site. Others were seting up the drum. Still others were handing out signs and setting aside sections of the sidewalk for those who wanted to pray. Small children were runnign around, fanning people with Standing on The Side of Love signs to cool them off in the early evening heat.
I sat down with in the prayer section and settled in. It was an amazing experience to try and mediated while drums are beating and people are chanting and car horns (so many,many car horns) are honking in support. It was a powerful experience and I will neve forget.
After about an hour and 3/4 or so, one of the folk who had been arrested yesterday asked me to drive her back to her hotel. She was simply worn out. I was amazed she was still standing. So Jerry and I took her back to her hotel.
While in the lobby, we received several kind comments and two young adults/people of color came over to shake our hands and thank us enthusiastically for coming to Phoenix. I was a bit speechless.
The vigil is still ongoing and has moved to the downtown jail location where S. Reza was moved (we think.) It’s nearly midnight and Jerry and I are also feeling exhausted. So we will sleep awhile and plan to rejoin the vigil in the morning before heading out for our plane back to Columbus.
I feel that something major has happened this week. This is the beginning of a change in the American soul. Standing on the side of love has become more than a niftly little song in the hymnal. It has become more than a slogan and t-shirt. It is now a way of life.
May we all learn to live in love.
