Dear Earthlings,
The Rev. Dr. John B. Cobb Jr. gave a series of sermons on ecological civilization and process theology at Church of the Village a Methodist Church in New York City, a few weeks ago. His last sermon was about, "Love of Enemies." I attended on Zoom. Dr. Cobb's benediction and final blessing was electrifying and I felt as if an arrow had pierced my heart.
"Imagine President Biden and President Xi of China," he said, "meeting together to work together to save our world." I was moved to imagine this far out possibility and shared my enthusiasm.
The USA has a history of calling and treating China as, "Enemy Number 1" Imagining the two major superpowers working to save us is a new idea. I like it. After worship, Rev. Jeff Wells, the wonderful and dynamic lead minister at Church of the Village invited small group discussion on Zoom with the preacher. I shared with Dr. Cobb that his invitation to imagine the two presidents coming together to save our living earth was electrifying to me. I went on to suggest that because he has a close relationship with people in the highest levels of Chinese government and he is an American citizen, he is in a unique position to actually make this invitation for real.
I know Cobb knows Chinese politicians because I traveled in China with Dr. Cobb a few years ago. We had a meeting with Mr. Jialu Xu, the Vice President of the Chinese Parliament, a friend and fellow philosophy professor of Dr. Cobb's. There was no security, not a gun in sight. We drank tea and the two men talked and a few of us listened. You won't believe one of the things they talked about. Mr. Jialu Xu turned to John Cobb, his old friend for they have gotten together many times during Cobb's trips to China. The Vice President of China asked John Cobb, " What is your favorite Gospel in the New Testament, John?" He replied, "Well, of course, I appreciate the Gospel of John like everyone, but as a theologian, I am particularly fond of Paul!"
OK, if that doesn't blow your mind, I'll eat my hat. If the highest levels of the Chinese government can be friends with our "Protestant Pope" the major interpreter of Alfred North Whitehead, a philosopher, theologian and environmentalist who has dedicated his life to "Seizing An Alternative Before It is Too Late" than we can ask the American people to sign a letter in support and create a movement of radical global cooperation.
A few hours after the service and sermon about "Love of Enemies" I received an email from John Cobb with a draft of letter he had written to the two presidents. He asked me to help him. So, of course I said yes, not knowing what that would entail. I read his letter at our (4 pm PST ) Church for Our Common Home worship service that afternoon and we reflected on his message. Since that time, a small group has formed talking about beginning a movement to save our earth by encouraging China and the US to work together. We are pregnant with hope for the vision of ecological civilization for our living earth.
I suggested that Dr. Cobb contact some of his famous friends to help him begin a movement of global citizens challenging their super power leaders to save our living Earth. I asked for David Korten's email for I had met him briefly in Toronto at the Parliament of World Religions a few years back. I thought he would have ideas about how to get press attention for he and his wife began YES! Magazine, YES! Magazine (I will give you YES! Magazine if you have not read it for Christmas. It is fantastic!) I hoped he would have press contacts for us. David's life story is inspiring. He had a change of mind or a kind of conversion experince and gave up capitalism. He left Harvard and has gifted us with inspiring ideas and books like, Change the Story, Change the Future. He is a member of the Club of Rome, Club of Rome.
David responded to my email suggesting I talk with his friend John Perkins. John Perkins is the NY Times Best Selling author of the brilliant book, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, as well as the founder of Pachamama Alliance, and has writing many books about global injustice and the wisdom of indigenous peoples and shamanism. He shares generously about his adventures in Ecuador and around the world. John is a rare bird both part shaman, part economist. He takes people on adventures and writes like the wind. Check out his website and sign up for his newsletter. It is fantastic. John Perkins
It turns out that John Perkins is currently writing a book about China. I invited him to meet Dr. Cobb on Zoom. Since that meeting, we have sent Dr. Cobb's letter to President Biden and President Xi, as well as letters asking for other famous people to sign on in support. Dr. Cobb's brilliant letter writing has gone out to Pope Francis, the Dalai Lama, Al Gore, Greta Thunberg etc. We also sent out a press release, had Dr. Cobb's letter translated as well as the press release translated into Spanish, Mandarin and Hindi. There are plans to have people sign in support as well as groups. We have even hired a publicist! Here is Cobb's letter to the presidents in case you missed it in our previous blog. Cobb's letter to the Presidents.
Our movement needs a new name, something that captures the hope for China and the US Working for a Living Earth. Please send your ideas.
This Advent is a dangerous historic time. Covid, floods of refugees, genocide of species and eco systems, starvation, poverty and injustice, war and the horrors of the Blah Blah Blah of politics as usual or worse. Church for Our Common Home will share about the letters and emerging movement as we share a new story and the vision of an ecological civilization in response to the bad news. Light comes in the darkness, babies are born in stables as their refugee parents hope for a better life for their children.
And then guess what happened? After the UN Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland the presidents met for three hours on Zoom. Do you think they read Dr. Cobb's letter? It is possible. Everything effects everything else so of course it had to help, yes?
This Advent I ask that you join me in imagining that we are all pregnant with a new story, a vision of our human family turning catastrophe into an alternative. If you are anything like me, you are hoping beyond hope that we can be a part of meaningful work for the common good. We gather weekly on Zoom at Church for Our Common Home to worship with the animals and to pray to Emmanuel, the God who is with us. I agree with Margaret Mead who said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Pregnancy is dangerous. We have no idea how we will feel day to day or if the birth will be unusually difficult and painful. Will our vision of an ecologic civilization be born healthy and strong, or premature and completely different than what we imagined. Chaos and darkness before birth is the given. Mr. Rick Smyre is a futurist who is a part of our group. Lifeboat Foundation Bios: Rick Smyre He wrote a book entitled, Preparing for a World That Does Not Exist Yet. His work develops “capacities for transformation” in the thinking and activities of citizen leaders in local communities. Sounds like a worthy Advent Adventure to me.
We need you! It's time to gather and imagine a movement dedicated to the safety of our grandchildrenfuture generations and Mother's and children of all species. It is darkest before the dawn. Crisis is an invitation for transformation. We are pregnant as a human species whether we want to be or not with new visions and hope, for us humans can be tenacious and hard working. It does not surprise me that this adventure came out of a sermon on the radical notion that humans can learn to love their enemies. Martin Luther King, Mohamad Gandhi and Nelson Mandela all found a way out of no way. It is time for us Earthlings to follow in the power and example of Black Lives Matters, go into the streets, go to the internet, gather together in local gatherings and to pray to save our living Earth.
Walt and I moved to Oregon a year and a half ago to create a community to learn to live in harmony and love with the nature world, to learn to love and pray for our common home. Our support system is growing online and in person as we reach out to people and to communities also seeking a new way to live. There are pioneering people and communities around the world and I long to get connected and support one another, to work in partnership. Our ministry has recently joined in partnership with The Church of the Village in New York City The Church of the Village,, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Salem, The UU Congregation of Salem, as well as the Claremont Nexus Group, Claremont Nexus Group a new organization begun by Dr. Cobb to connect the world of process thinkers with one another.
As a mother, grandmother and minister, as an Earthling, I sense that God is calling me to do whatever I am able to do to create a more livable world for future generations, no matter how impossible. I'm all in. How about you? What the hell is our choice? Exactly, I rest my case. Please join us as we share a new story for Advent, a visionary story of hope. Come dream dreams and share visions. What do you think an ecological civilization will be like?
Sending love, Bonnie
P.S. Check this Youtube out. You will love it. Thank you to Dr. Kevin Clark for sharing this entertaining and poignant Youtube with me and consider this a Hanukka gift from me and Kevin. Please share it with your friends. Link about The Juice Media and Honest Government Ads
