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May 29
Sojourner Truth, Bahá'u'lláh, Andrew Greeley, and G.K. Chesterton
David Barnhart
May 29, 2025
Moss and puffballs, 2024. Own photo.
On this day in 1851, Sojourner Truth delivered her famous extemporaneous “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech in Akron, Ohio at the Women’s Rights Convention. Though her actual words only survive in embellished written accounts from white attendees, the speech galvanized hearers and raised awareness that intersectional justice cannot be taken for granted.
Today marks the death, in 1892, of Baháʼu'lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í faith. A follower of Babism, Baháʼu'lláh was caught up in the persecution of Babis in Iran, was exiled, and then was forced into hiding by another Babi leader. The Bahá’í faith teaches the unity of religions and a progressive revelation of God to humanity.
Today marks the death, in 2013, of Andrew Greeley, a Roman Catholic priest, author, and sociologist who wrote prolifically and used his platform to criticize the Iraq War and predatory capitalism, among other things.
And today marks the birthday, in 1874, of G.K. Chesterton, author, lay theologian, and philosopher. His acerbic wit made him very quotable.
Reflection
From Frances Gage’s recollections of Sojourner Truth’s speech:
“Then that little man in black there, he says women can't have as much rights as men, 'cause Christ wasn't a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.
If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them.”
Bahá’u’lláh wrote:
The All-Knowing Physician hath His finger on the pulse of mankind. He perceiveth the disease, and prescribeth, in His unerring wisdom, the remedy. Every age hath its own problem, and every soul its particular aspiration. The remedy the world needeth in its present-day afflictions can never be the same as that which a subsequent age may require. Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and centre your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements.
Andrew Greeley wrote:
“We are born with two incurable diseases, life, from which we die, and hope, which says maybe death isn't the end.”
Among many other great Chesterton quotes, this is one of my favorites (and there are many more in the link):
“Among the rich you will never find a really generous man even by accident. They may give their money away, but they will never give themselves away; they are egotistic, secretive, dry as old bones. To be smart enough to get all that money you must be dull enough to want it.”
Prayer: Great Physician, you know the cure for what ails our planet. Give us the wisdom, hope, and tenacity to move toward healing and wholeness. Amen.