By Mary Hill
It was the mid 80’s. I was a college student involved in covering social movements of my age as a student journalist. I became close to the movements involving ending Apartheid in South Africa through divestment and ending the funding to the Contras who were waging a very destructive civil war against the Sandinistas in Nicaragua.
I bought a t-shirt at one of the biggest rallies in Washington. Hundreds of thousands of students from across the United States descended on the Washington, DC, on April 25, 1987. I went as an embedded student journalist. I loved the atmosphere and the star power. Ed Asner, Peter, Paul and Mary, and other stars spoke out against our nation’s foreign policy concerning South Africa, Korea, and Nicaragua. I watched as the students danced in the mud on the Ellipse. I did not take a side, but I was caught up in the excitement of the day.
When I returned home for the summer, I wore the t-shirt to a family gathering. A scripture was on the back of the t-shirt about love and walking the second mile. I can’t remember the exact scripture now. It attracted the attention of my uncle, who was active in the Republican party in Greenville. He was concerned about me becoming “liberal.” I do have Christian “liberal” leanings, but my heart belongs to Christ fully. I am a mixed bag. He pulled me to the side with a simple statement that there were more scriptures in the Bible than just the one on my shirt. I said simply, “All scriptures matter equally.”
He smiled and said no more. Looking back, I appreciate the concern and love he showed me that day. We can walk wrong roads so quickly. He was trying to guide me out of love.
My family and I still don’t see eye to eye on every subject. We have differing viewpoints on issues like healthcare, immigration, and welfare. We agree on Christ, however. He is the center of our family.
My husband chided me before the family reunion. “No politics.” I am a liberal Christian, but I believe in the wholeness of the family when you have a God-fearing husband at the helm. I submitted to him and just enjoyed the day.
My mom and my aunt were sitting in the kitchen and began talking about immigration. My cue, I quietly left and went into another room where my cousin had a sign that she was taping on my brother who refuses to admit his age. It stated that he was “43.” Laughter and love were my focus of the day.
Later, we took photographs in my cousin’s front yard. After all the family pictures were taken, I sat in the corner of the yard by myself where a beautiful bench sat with a flower bush. I enjoyed a quiet moment contemplating how far I had come since those college years. I could still hear the chanting and feel the excitement of working as a reporter covering the big civil rights marches. At the same, I could hear the laughter of family and enjoyed the fellowship of the day.
Today, I am a mother focused on Jesus. Where Love is Jesus shines. My family loves Jesus and I love them with my whole heart: my aunts, uncles, cousins, sister, and brothers.
Contributing to these hops:
What insight you gained in the ability to know when to walk away from a conversation and not let your feathers get ruffled. Loving as Christ loved is the challenge and family is more important than petty arguments and politics.
We never leave loved ones, but carry them with us…or perhaps they carry us.
Many of us had radical ideas when young (some of us still do). It is all part of discovering the world and who we are. However the the great inspiration and motivator in our lives is often our family and we are lucky if that is the case even though we do choose our own path in the end. Great read.
We can get caught up in activity and young people are easily influenced by speeches and protests. You did well to stay neutral and focused, and good girl to just have fun and love one another at the family reunion. Thank you for sharing with us here at “Tell Me a Story.”
Lovely message, with a very relevant message, Mary.
Yes, all scriptures teach the same, still people fight in the name of religion.
Be blessed. May the Lord shine us all!
What a wonderful gathering of family, love, and good memories in the making! It is fun to look back at where our lives were all those years ago, how we’ve matured, and how God has guided us to be the people He wants us to be! It sounds like you have your priorities just right in life… faith and family. This was a lovely post, it made me smile!