Thursday, October 28, 2021

FAITH IN NATURE – THE SOURCE OF ACTION FOR JUSTICE

 

Introduction:  “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”  (Jeremiah 31:33)

Christine Newman Ortiz is the executive Director and founder of Voces de la Frontera, an immigrant workers center. Voces is well known for its participation in the struggle for worker rights.  On May 1st every year Voces organizes a march in which thousands participate.  Christine animates the action for justice as nature - the natural law dictates.  

She is the daughter of a Mayan mother and a father who was born in Germany and earned a PhD in science.  He taught at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. 

Christine’s Faith or Trust in nature is expressed in a poem she wrote after her father’s death.


Es un guerrero, mi corozon (My heart, a warrior)


For Opa

You won’t believe me.

Or maybe you will?  


The day after my father’s soul

Departed his body

While he slept in our home

He came back the next day.

In the form of a sparrow                                                                                                                                                                           

Hovering


On the other side of the window

On the second floor of our home

Like a hummingbird                                                             

Holding itself in flight.


Fixing his gaze solidly to mine

For five long deep breaths

It was as if I was seeing through a crack in the universe

something wondrous, vibrant mysterious.


My father, a proud Berliner,

A hard working responsible German immigrant

Who allowed himself moments of tenderness, expression, 

and sentimentality

Towards the end


Was reaching out 

Across a great chasm

In the form of his beloved sparrow, Pio-Pio

And his childhood nickname 


Clear as daylight

Loud as thunder

To say “Look I am still with you. Do not grieve. I am here.”


Epilogue: 

The two sources of Revelation are Nature and the Bible.                    

Thomas Aquinas


Heart and Fist’  Graphic

Diccionario del Corozon                                                                                                                                                                         

Grabados de Naul Ojeda

Taller Leñateros, San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico  2002                                                                                        


  



                                                                             


                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                                                                                              

 


 


 

1 comment:

  1. Thank you Bill for posting this. What a beautiful tribute by Christine to her father. It was a celebration of diversity.

    ReplyDelete