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The revolution of Dorothy Day is this radical insistence: the human person is the primary determining factor for defining, designing, or creating every social order. The person is the focus and the point of every social institution (political, religious, economic, cultural, and educational). Every social institution exists to serve and facilitate the liberation and full development of every person. It is this "revolution" that every society needs to be critiqued with. And this revolutionary critique is the fundamental solution to every social problem that confronts us still, for when the person is considered first, debate ends about health care for all. When the person comes first, debate ends about taxes and economic and environmental regulations (personalism versus monopoly capitalism). When the person comes first, debate ends about ends and means... the good of each and every person is both means and ends. When the person comes first, no child will ever again be allowed to starve to death... The clarity provided by Dorothy Day's revolutionary thought pierces the "fog talk" of all the politicians, pundits, and preachers dealing propaganda for the "principalities and powers" that St. Paul warned of. 
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Rumi was a 13th century Sufi mystic, poet, and saint. Thanks largely to the versions of Rumi that have come to us through the heart and pen of Coleman Barks, Rumi is the best selling poet in America -- and has been for a number of years now. Two books that are together a perfect introduction to Rumi are The Illuminated Rumi by Coleman Barks and Michael Green; and One Song by Michael Green. With out-of-this-world art, text, and commentary they would serve you well as both introduction and life-long source books. Something about Rumi captures hearts and imaginations. Somehow, after reading Rumi, we begin to believe it possible for Islam, Judaism, and Christianity to live in mutual respect, peace, and even reverence. Somehow, after reading Rumi, we begin to believe that the Holy One just might be our Beloved Friend -- not a "God" of power and domination who is all about testing, controlling, and judging. Truthfully, unless one is hoping for an "inside job" working for "God" testing, controlling, and judging either one's neighbors or enemies, who in their right mind would want to believe and submit to such a being? Rumi frees us from our dominators! Glorious freedom to dive into the Mystery of Love! Now we can talk about something other than "religion"! I believe Rumi to be profoundly relevant to both our world and our personal life situations. I also believe that he is yet alive in Love -- and along the way, he left orthodoxy like a tattered coat on a sidewalk somewhere... a good place for us to leave it too, whatever "version" we might have been wearing... the Holy One has something really sweet in Her mind for us!  |
AuthorRobert Daniel Smith was privileged to serve the homeless and marginalized for 30 years in California. He is living now almost within shouting distance of the Twin Cities. He is a poet, artist, writer, and long-time Companion of the Way still dreaming... Archives
May 2022
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