A Pastoral Letter from the Rev. William G. Sinkford (Earth, exodus)

[Green Gaia]

In this season of rebirth, a call to people of conscience

April, 2006

Dear Friends,
In the springtime people of all faiths reaffirm our connection to the earth and greet the returning light with hope and optimism. Passover, Easter and the Vernal Equinox all celebrate this season of hope. As I reflect on events of the past year I am mindful of why this season is so important, and I am especially mindful of our brothers and sisters, both in this country and in remote parts of the globe, who have endured natural disasters, war, and genocide. It is with their sufferings in mind that I find hope in the story from the Hebrew Scriptures that has inspired people for thousands of years.
The book of Exodus tells how a proud people were freed from bondage to an oppressive regime. The story of the Israelites’ captivity and liberation is close to my heart this year because I heard echoes of this ancient tale when I visited refugee camps in Chad last November. Like the Israelites, the displaced people from the Darfur region in Sudan fled their oppressors, leaving behind their homes, possessions and, in many cases, family members. Driven out by violence, they did not even have time to prepare the unleavened bread that was made in haste by the Israelites and that is remembered in the Seder meal hundreds of generations later. As one refugee explained to me, “We escaped only with cloth.” They had nothing but the clothes on their backs. Their portion was bitter herbs and salty tears.
Many of the exiles crossed the border into Chad, where their need and numbers overwhelmed the local villages. The sultan of the small town I visited explained that when he beheld the hungry, desperate newcomers, he knew instantly that there was no other option but to open the granaries and share his community’s precious food stores. Like manna from heaven, this sustenance was given to the exiles as an act of grace. It was unearned and unexpected, but offered freely. The sultan’s faith called him to welcome the Darfur refugees as honored guests. This noble man knows what we all know deep in our hearts: that we are called to shelter the homeless and to feed the hungry. Ours are the only hands on earth to make compassion real.
The suffering endured by the people of Darfur is beyond heartbreaking. But I find hope in knowing that we have the power to alleviate their misery and to stop the genocide. The ongoing atrocities in Sudan are a call to all people of conscience. Your congregation can help by joining the Save Darfur Coalition's “Million Voices for Darfur Campaign” before it concludes on April 30th. Ours are the only hands on earth to make justice real.
During this season of rebirth, when nature bestows her grace so freely upon us all, let us remember our brothers and sisters in exile who long for a peaceful home. Let us begin again in love by renewing our commitment to our most sacred calling. Ours are the only hands on earth.

In faith,
Rev. William G. Sinkford
President, Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations