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A lovely Norman Rockwell painting shows diverse people and quotes from around the world. The idea is that most every religion has a saying similar to Christianity’s Golden Rule – “Do unto Others as You Would Have Them Do to You”.

Rockwell got the idea at the height of the Cold War and two years into the Korean War. His concept was to picture the United Nations as the world’s hope for the future—he included sixty-five people representing the world’s nations. Rockwell was a compassionate and liberal man, according to his own museum, and this simple phrase reflected his philosophy. Having traveled all his life and been welcomed wherever he went, Rockwell felt like a citizen of the world, and his politics reflected that value system.

From photographs he’d taken on his 1955 round-the-world Pam Am trip, Rockwell referenced native costumes and accessories and how they were worn. He picked up a few costumes and devised some from ordinary objects in his studio, such as using a lampshade as a fez. Many of Rockwell’s models were local exchange students and visitors. In a 1961 interview, indicating the man wearing a wide brimmed hat in the upper right corner, Rockwell said, “He’s part Brazilian, part Hungarian, I think. Then there is Choi, a Korean. He’s a student at Ohio State University. Here is a Japanese student at Bennington College and here is a Jewish student. He was taking summer school courses at the Indian Hill Museum School.” Pointing to the rabbi, he continued, “He’s the retired postmaster of Stockbridge. He made a pretty good rabbi, in real life, a devout Catholic. I got all my Middle East faces from Abdalla who runs the Elm Street market, just one block from my house.”

The work—originally presented to the UN in 1985 as a gift on behalf of the United States by then First Lady Nancy Reagan – hangs in the UN’s NYC headquarters.

I like the painting and the history of it because it reminds us that most people around the globe share fundamental values. Most, if not all, of the world’s great faith traditions teach the truth that we must treat one another with some kind of loving kindness.

Rabbi Hillel, who lived from 110 BCE – 10 CE, taught “what is hateful to you, don’t do to another; that is the whole Torah; the rest is commentary; go and learn.”

Today, I want to talk about the audacious love of God; and the hope it gives us to turn and act in outrageous and courageous ways! Did you know that when East Germany was a Soviet police state, some Christians there started a movement of candlelight vigils throughout the city? The protesters walked peacefully throughout the streets with candles, singing hymns. It started as a few hundred faithful people on the streets of Leipzip, but over time, almost the entire city was turning out with their candles. The movement spread further – and many believe it contributed to the eventual fall of the Berlin Wall. This was a courageous act of faith – and it made a difference that brings hope to the world even decades and perhaps centuries later.

In I John 4, we are given one of the most profound analysis of Christian love in the Christian Testament. It surpasses even I Corinthians 13, which I have talked about the last two weeks. This text speaks to the priority of God’s audacious love for us, which makes it possible for us to love one another. What is primary here is that love originates with God. Our love is not self-generated, but manifests with and is sourced by God.

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.
 1 John 4:7-8

This love is powerful, transformative, free and freeing to all. Martin Luther King said, “We must discover the power of love, the power, the redemptive power of love. And when we discover that, we will be able to make of this old world a new world. Love is the only way.”

Some time ago, Eric and I watched a movie called “Moxie”. It wasn’t the greatest movie I’ve ever seen, but it had a terrific message. The movie is based on a novel by Jennifer Mathieu. "Moxie" takes its inspiration from the riot grrrl era of the '90s, but is set in a modern-day high school. A teenage girl ignites a raging feminist movement in her high school after discovering a treasure trove of riot grrrl memorabilia in her mother's trunk. "Moxie" is both an awkward act of nostalgia for '90s activism and an attempt to push the riot grrrl legacy into the future. It takes on modern issues of racism, sexism, activism, and how to negotiate our differences while managing teen angst, relationships, and love. While it is a comedy, there was a lot to consider about how to lovingly create change in a toxic culture. The movie gave me hope because I know that there are real teenagers in real high schools making audacious changes to bring equality and more courageous ways of being into their lives.

In another congregation I served, a man who had been home bound for several years had been suffering from extreme dementia for some time. His wife had been quietly and bravely taking care of him in their home for years – mostly by herself. It was a lonesome and heavy burden on her many days. He hadn’t shown much recognition of her or communicated with her for some time. A few days before his death, she went up to the ICU to visit him. She took his hands in hers and said, “Hi George. Its Mary. It’s good to be with you.” His eyes cleared in a way that she hadn’t seen in some time. He recognized her. It was the first time he smiled in the longest time. “Oh,” she said, “it’s so good to see you smile! It’s been so long.” And then she said, “I love you.” She really didn’t expect anything in return. He wasn’t speaking much at all. The smile he had given her was a miracle all on its own. But he spoke! And he said, “I wove you”. She leaned over and kissed him and to her amazement, he puckered up and returned her kiss! And he kept saying, “I wove you. I wove you. I wove you.” This brief shining moment was a breakthrough that was a balm to the many, backbreaking months – years – that Mary had carried the weight of care giving on her shoulders. And that brief exchange was the last time George said anything that could be understood. Audacious love, given by Mary for years. Audacious love, expressed by George for a moment. And yet – it was enough.

What outrageous, audacious love are you being called to share this week?
• Jesus walked the streets of Jerusalem, knowing it would be his last. Giving it all – his very life – for what he believed: that divine love is stronger than power.
• Norman Rockwell painted a courageous depiction of people from all walks of life surrounded by a universal truth that we know as the Golden Rule.
• Singing hymns in the streets of East Berlin was an act of audacious hope – that racism and xenophobia would not win.
• Martin Luther King, Jr. taught a new way of peaceful resistance, called for the end of oppression and segregation. He put hope into action for people of color and they began to stand up with him in audacious ways!
• Teenagers in the movie Moxie addressed sexism, racism and peer pressure by creating a new outrageous magazine and standing up against bullies.
• George demonstrated and expressed his eternal love in his dying days, even in the haze of dementia and medication.

A week like this calls out to us. This is no schmaltzy, fuzzy bunny, kind of calling. This is an audacious call to action on behalf of a God who sent love into the world in the person of Jesus – a man willing to put word into action even to death.
- This is the kind of love that calls us to step way outside our comfort zones and march.

- It calls us to write letters to congress.

- It calls us to stand up for what we believe in.

- It calls us to put aside our comfort, our usual way of doing things, and change.

- It calls us to sign up to volunteer.

- It calls us to make a difference in the life of someone in need.

- It calls us out of our homes and into the world again and again.

- It calls us to mentor children.

- It calls us to sponsor and help immigrants and refugees.

- It calls us to help the homeless and the orphaned.

- It calls us to visit the sick and imprisoned.

And this is just the beginning! All of us are being called to outrageous, audacious, courageous acts of hope! God’s love is manifested among us. Let it be so. Amen.

 

Resourced Used:

Curry, Bishop Michael. “Love is the Way; Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times”. New York: Avery. 2020.

New Interpreter’s Commentary

Norman Rockwell Museum. Nrm.org “Rockwell’s ‘Golden Rule’” Feb. 5, 2014 blog post.