We're coming up on the year anniversary of the Jonathan Daniels Pilgrimage, held in Hayneville, AL which I try to make every year. I wanted to share my reflections from last year and encourage people to attend this year, too:
Today I got a glimpse into the life of Jonathan Daniels, a white Episcopalian seminarian who was murdered in 1965 in Hayneville, AL. We gathered at the Lowndes County Courthouse lawn, marched to the jail where he was held, and visited the storefront steps where Jonathan was killed.
I dripped sweat in the heat of the day, and a young man actually fainted from dehydration as we stood in front of the former Varner's Grocery Store where Jonathan was murdered. I can only imagine what it was like for the 29 prisoners in that tiny jail, in the August heat. They were arrested and jailed for picketing white-only stores. My skin crawled at the small, rusted, metal cells. I learned that Jonathan was offered release, but refused to leave behind the African American marchers. He was later released with the other protesters, and when he, a white priest, and two other black protesters went to the grocery store down the block, a man shot at 17-year-old Ruby Sales. Jonathan stepped in front of the bullet to protect Ruby and was instantly killed.
Jonathan Daniels's life touches and inspires me. Like me, Jonathan left his home and school for what he saw as a worthwhile cause. He didn’t just come for a couple of days to march with the masses – he left everything behind and melded his life with the people. He lived with an African American family in Selma in the 60's, when he could have been killed by a bigot at any moment. He brought groups of young African Americans to the Episcopal Church services. He marched and protested in even the smallest towns in the area, and gave his life for one African American teenager.
Jonathan's life could be so easily missed. He was just one man in the midst of hundreds of race-related murders in the South. But I feel a connection to him. When God pricked his heart to act, he acted; he sacrificed his plans and changed the course of his life. To me, today is the beginning of my part in making sure his death is not in vain, and seeing that his story lives on to inspire others.
Welcome!
Welcome to the Freedom Foundation “blog” – a place to read everyday stories from everyday people who volunteer for the Freedom Foundation. These are the stories that are the life of the events, programs and efforts of the Foundation.
Some people criticize us for the faith we have that makes us believe we can make a difference. Others ridicule the idea that change is possible. But it is stories like these that you read below and then thousands of others that remind us that making a difference in just one person’s life is worth it.
The Starfish Story
Original Story by: Loren Eisley
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”
The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean.
The surf is up and the tide is going out.
If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”
“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?
You can’t make a difference!”
After listening politely, the boy bent down,
picked up another starfish,
and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…
“I made a difference for that one.”
These are our “Starfish Stories”.
Some people criticize us for the faith we have that makes us believe we can make a difference. Others ridicule the idea that change is possible. But it is stories like these that you read below and then thousands of others that remind us that making a difference in just one person’s life is worth it.
The Starfish Story
Original Story by: Loren Eisley
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”
The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean.
The surf is up and the tide is going out.
If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”
“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?
You can’t make a difference!”
After listening politely, the boy bent down,
picked up another starfish,
and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…
“I made a difference for that one.”
These are our “Starfish Stories”.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
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