September 5

Today is the birthday, in 1939, of Claudette Colvin, a nurse’s aid and civil rights activist who predated Rosa Parks by nine months in her refusal to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery. She was arrested, and when she was bailed out of jail by her pastor, he told her that she had brought the revolution to Montgomery. 

Today marks the death, in 1997, of Mother Teresa, founder of the Missionaries of Charity and icon of self-giving compassion to the poor. Like Albert Schweitzer, who I mentioned yesterday, her ministry was not without its critics. After her death, some correspondence came to light which also showed she struggled with faith during long spiritual dry spells. 

Reflection: 

Mother Teresa said,

Mother Teresa did not want her doubts made public, and had asked her correspondence to be destroyed. In part, this was because she was afraid people would focus on her instead of on Jesus. 

I am glad when people are honest about their doubts and struggles with faith. I believe the most relatable thing Jesus ever says in the gospels is when he cries out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” To me, this makes the incarnation of God in Christ more important, not less. It shows that even God can feel God-forsaken. I would go so far as to say I doubt that a Savior who does not know what it feels like to be God-forsaken is not actually capable of saving us. One of the keenest experiences of God we have is abandonment and absence. The psalmists write about it: “God, why have you abandoned us forever?” (Psalm 74:1). 

I also want to take a moment to say how grateful I am for Claudette Colvin. Those who are on the cutting edge often do not get the credit they deserve. The pioneers in social movements are often forgotten. Recognition sticks to those who were in the right place at the right time. In no way would I diminish the work of Rosa Parks, but her successful challenge of the status quo rested, in part, upon Claudette Colvin’s earlier resistance. This high schooler charted the path that a whole community would follow to change history. 

Prayer: God, being a trailblazer can be lonely. If we step out in courage, do not abandon us. Amen.