It was such a privilege to witness today, the funeral service for Beloved Congressman, John Robert Lewis.
For those who may wish to see and hear, here is the link.
(At the bottom of this post is order of those who gave Tributes. Note: disregard the times, as the order only, is accurate).
Every tribute was deep, moving, and calling us forward to follow the calling of our hearts, and act upon those callings - as John Lewis did by his example.
Congressman John Lewis left a letter to the New York Times, to be published on the day of his funeral. In it, as some speakers said in their Tributes today at his funeral, are the 'marching orders' he left for us:
The names of many of those speaking are familiar, and every speaker offered something profound, part of the whole, so I cannot say to you whom you may wish to choose to listen to.
For an intimate feeling of what is was like to work with him day to day, and the way he was really both divine and human in how he was day to day - listen to Jamila Thompson, his Deputy Chief of Staff. If all organizations were led as he did his office, our world would truly be transformed.
Listen to James M. Lawson's stirring recounting, and ending with a Langston Hughes poem for us all.
Listen to the prayer of Dr. Bernice King.
Listen to the prayer of Dr. Bernice King.
Listen to Nancy Polosi talk about Satyagraha.
Listen to any of the Presidents honor him, and recount the moments with him. And listen to the eulogy by President Obama, and his calling us forth.
Listen to Xerona Clayton recount how she helped John Lewis and Lillian Miles get to know one another and be married - and to her one message of his of what all must do: VOTE.
Listen to each of the others, if you wish, to feel more of the depth and fullness of what John Lewis gave us. Allow yourself to be inspired by how he was, and what he did, for justice, for love, for hope, for America.
All blessings to the legacy he leaves, as a Founding Father of this generation and as one of those has taken what we inherited in our Declaration of Independence and Constitution, and helped us move as a society toward becoming that more Perfect Union - and it is up to each of us to continue this work. Listen to his words. Listen to the words of those who knew him, were inspired by him, whose lives were changed by him.
We give great thanks for the blessings of his soul, he brought to us, gifts he left with us, and for us to carry forward the torch of love, truth, equality, justice, and freedom for all.
No comments:
Post a Comment