Love One Another

“My very life is a protest.” 

–Dorothy Day

I started taking classes for the Masters in Peace Studies program here at the college. It is absolutely fascinating. We discuss influential peacemakers (Like Gandhi), the obvious lack of peace in our world, and all of our lovely baggage and frustration that arise from our own brokenness and the brokenness of the world around us.

It is a heavy class. The discussions are intense. The topic can be emotionally draining. But, the deep desire for reconciliation, peace, and fulfillment is energizing. The hunger for justice permeates every conversation; although we are a diverse group—our ages range from late 60s to me at 22 years old and each have drastically different worldviews—we are all unified in our search for answers to the mindless chaotic violence that surrounds us and the nagging whisper for justice within us.

I found the quote at the top in an essay about Dorothy Day. She worked with poor women in New York and lived an intriguing life. The author of the essay describes Day as humble and patient:

“I cannot worry much about your sins and miseries when I have so many of my own. I can only love you all…My prayer from day to day is that God will so enlarge my heart that I will see you all, and live with you all, in His love” (Day)

Dorothy Day is so cool. She literally entered into the situation of the women she was working with (she actually lived among them!). Not only did she bring about social reform and influence a ton of people, she also had the most remarkable philosophy. She realized that it was only through prayer that she could hope to love those around her. It was not her own human emotional capacity that would empower her to act selflessly and mercifully; she needed the power of God. When we live among injustice and see it’s hideous children: apathy, prejudice, violence and ingratitude—it is tempting to give up. It is tempting to simply walk away. Peace seems like a naïve response to the grotesque shriek of injustice.

Dorothy Day didn’t give up. She says that working "to increase our love for God and for our fellow man…is a lifetime job. We are never going to be finished” (Day). Day continued to pray for the strength to persevere in her labor of love to the women in New York City. She didn’t let the ingratitude of the poor or the “rotten, decadent, putrid industrial capitalist system which breeds…suffering” defeat her. Her entire life was a protest. She consistently loved the unlovable and defied the injustice and systemic prejudices around her. 

So, let’s follow Dorothy Day’s example. If we ask God for the strength to suspend judgment, show mercy, act humbly, and love those around us, our lives will also be a protest. It will upset our deeply rooted desire to be successful, powerful, influential, and appreciated. It will spit in the face of pride and fear. Instead of looking at hopeless circumstances with anxiety or anger, we will enter into the hopeless with love. Instead of pointing out weakness in others, we will show mercy. Instead of offering trite solutions to systemic evils, we can bring thoughtful, radical change to the perspective of the oppressed. We can fight the evil with humility. If we look at the world through the lenses of compassion and empathy, we will change the lives of those around us. Let your entire life be a protest.


*quotes from class handout 28 October 2015, Bethlehem Bible College