THEY AIN’T HEAVY
Summit UU Fellowship April 13, 2008
Rev. Kathleen Green
The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows when
But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother
A song first made popular by the Hollies in 1969, and then covered by numerous artists over the years.
Forty-five years earlier, in 1924, the first editor of Kiwanis Magazine, Roe Fulkerson, published a column carrying the title "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother". The article speaks of Fulkerson's inspiring encounter with "a spindly and physically weak lad" carrying a baby and "staggering towards a neighboring park". " 'Pretty big load for such a small kid' I said as I met him. 'Why, mister,' he smiled, 'He ain't heavy; he's my brother.' "
There is another explanation for the origin of the title "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" - A Vietnam War photo depicting a GI carrying a Vietnamese man on his back. The journalist had asked if he had been carrying him far, and the soldier had smiled at the camera and said, "He ain't heavy, he's my brother."
I’m reminded of a supposedly true story that the Dir. Of Religious Education in a New England congregation shared. The mother of a young boy in the religious education program called to speak with the DRE because of some strange behavior her son was exhibiting at home. The mother explained that during the previous week, her son, who usually fought viciously with his siblings over toys, snacks, the dog, you name it, didn’t fight at all. The boy was sharing and showing real compassion with his siblings. When she asked her son what made him decide not to fight, he just said, “Well, that’s what the good Sam Harrington would do.” There were several other incidents at home where the boy seemed to behave in a way that was ‘out of character’. Both his mother and father were actually quite pleased to see this change, but they found it very odd. It was also frustrating because every time they praised him and then asked why he was behaving this way, he would just say, “Well, that’s what the good Sam Harrington would do.” The mother explained to the DRE that the only connection she could see was that his behavior started after the family had returned from church last Sunday. Did the DRE have any idea who this Sam Harrington fellow was? No, she didn’t. As far as she knew it wasn’t a historical figure in Unitarian Universalism and they certainly didn’t mention that name in class last week. And then she started giggling. “But, of course! The lesson last week was about the good Samaritan. What your son heard was the good Sam Harrington.”
It really doesn’t matter whether the origin of He Ain’t Heavy comes from the Kiwanis magazine or the journalist in the Vietname War. It really doesn’t matter whether it’s the good Sam Harrington or the good Samaritan!
But most of us are familiar with the story of the Good Samaritan. A man lies hurt by the side of the road. Two people pass him by; one a priest and one a Levite. Then a Samaritan passes by, stops to help him, and pays for all his needs. We’re so used to the story now that it’s hard to recapture the revolutionary aspects of it, as it was told in Jesus’ day. Jews and Samaritans had nothing to do with each other. The most frequent point made, when discussing this story, is that we should help everyone, regardless of religion or nationality. I would add regardless of political party, sexual orientation, age, and socio economic class!
When a neighbor is in need, who bears responsibility to help? In this election year, we hear candidates wax poetic (and dramatic) about their plans for care of those in need. But I want to posit that government is not solely responsible for taking care of our neighbors. That responsibility belongs in large part to each one of us as participants in a variety of relationships and overlapping communities.
“Consider the real-life case in Prince George's County, Maryland, of a young boy named Deamonte Driver. Deamonte was 12 years old when he developed an abscessed tooth in early 2007. Deamonte's low-income single mother was eligible for Medicaid, but some sort of "bureaucratic foul-up" prevented access to it. Instead, Deamonte was taken to the emergency room, where he was medicated for pain and sinusitis and sent home.
What he actually needed was to have the abscessed tooth pulled by an oral surgeon. The cost of the procedure was reportedly estimated to be $80. Because he did not receive this procedure, bacteria from the abscess spread to Deamonte's brain and he died.”
Public debate surrounding this case has focused almost exclusively on how federal programs should be changed to ensure a safety net to "catch" children in Deamonte Driver's situation. Certainly, that is crucial. But perhaps there is something additional to consider – another question. Why weren’t there others in this boy's life to whom his mother could turn for such basic help. As the tragic results show, the Driver family needed someone who knew them and felt responsible for acting on Deamonte's behalf for a different degree of care. A government safety net seeks to provide social justice, but it is not capable of providing personal attention, on-the-ground instincts, or the flexibility sometimes required in an emergency situation.
I believe with all of my being – with my open mind, loving heart, and helping hands, that we are called to be stewards. As a faith community we are called to stewardship. Stewardship: The act of caring for all that has been given to us - the earth, all material and spiritual blessings, relationships of nurture and promise, life itself. The moral and ethical responsibility for caretaking on behalf of others; the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.
We are called to be stewards of Summit UU Fellowship: caretakers of our financial resources, caretakers of our community (brothers and sisters), caretakers of our planet. All a part of our vision statement. But being a steward isn’t easy. Being caretakers of our brothers and sisters is challenging work. In part because it requires us to be humble - to put egos aside and consider not only our personal opinions and desires and needs, but those of our sisters and brothers in this beloved community and those yet to find us. This might mean those we don’t agree with politically or theologically. Those who don’t make what we think are wise decisions in their life. Let’s tell it like it is: stewardship is some of the most challenging work we will do in our lives. And stewardship is a spiritual practice. Very simply, it is profoundly connected with being a person of faith.
Consider the heavy participation in relief and rebuilding projects following hurricane Katrina by faith communities. Though many governmental and non religious benevolence organizations have participated, the contributions by religious communities and organizations are recognized to be greater by proportion, efficiency, and consistency, They are motivated by three concepts: concern for the well-being of others, mercy, and stewardship.
Recognizing and living our call to be stewards of our brothers and sisters compels us to begin by living by the cornerstone of religious understanding – the golden rule. The founders of every major world religion – among them Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, Confucius, and Muhammad – all taught that following The Golden Rule is the surest way for humankind to fulfill its most cherished ideals. It is how the good Samaritan lived.
But that is, as I suggested, just the beginning. Then we go the next step. Categorical compassion - an idea that I brought to you a few weeks ago. It is what I like to think of as an evolved compassion. Categorical compassion requires intense and intentional practice. It implies an uncompromising and explicit empathy. Categorical compassion has to do with how we choose to be in relationship with our brothers and sisters. It is about intentionality and it is about stewardship.
Here at Summit we have a Caring Committee. I would like to those on that committee to stand and be recognized. These men and women are stewards who help to organize and facilitate the caring in this community.
In the next month you will be receiving survey from our Caring Committee asking you for two things: 1. what you are willing to give to help (give rides, prepare meals). Caring is not just for a committee. It’s not just for ‘some’ of us. It is a call for each and every one of us. As stewards, we can all do something to help our brothers and sisters.
The survey will also ask what you might need. I want to acknowledge that for some of us it’s easier to give help than to ask for help. I understand that. In my first year of seminary, my husband nearly lost his life due to complication from routine surgery. My parents came out to Chicago to help. But once they left, it was clear that we still needed some help to get through this crisis. I did not want to ask. Here I was in the beginning of my ministerial formation and I felt that I needed to show just how strong I was. I have always been strong and handled things on my own. But a wise minister offered: “Perhaps you can give someone the opportunity to help. You can offer that gift.” Sometimes we need to let down our guard and allow for others to serve; give others an opportunity to help – a reciprocal gift of love.
The Dalai Lama says, “The need for love lies at the very foundation of human existence. It results from the profound interdependence we all share with one another. However capable and skillful an individual may be, left alone, he or she will not survive. However, vigorous and independent one may feel during the most prosperous periods of life, when one is sick or very young or very old, one must depend on the support of others.
True compassion is not just an emotional response but a firm commitment founded on reason. Therefore, a truly compassionate attitude towards others does not change even if they behave negatively.”
We have welcomed new members in our community today who will be asked to reach out as stewards, and will also need to be reached out to. We are here because while we recognize the need to be individuals we also have a need to be in community together.
As Bobby Russell wrote: If I'm laden at all
I'm laden with sadness That everyone's heart
Isn't filled with the gladness Of love for one another
It's a long, long road From which there is no return
While we're on the way to there Why not share
And the load Doesn't weigh me down at all
They ain’t heavy, they’re my sisters and brothers
So be it.
BENEDICTION
Charles Herrick
If you have come here seeking God, may God go with you.
If you have come here seeking the way, may a path be found.
If you have come here seeking community, may we be your friends.
If you have come here seeking spiritual renewal, may you eave here strengthened in faith,
Renewed in hope,
And touched by the experience of love.
