Kids move into action when they learn of a 60 year old wrong

Reverend Gilbert and Grace Caldwell are frequent guest speakers at schools near their New Jersey home. At one such event last year, they told the fifth graders at Bear Tavern Elementary School in Titusville what happened to them on their honeymoon. 

It seems the couple was married in North Carolina, then drove eight hours north to honeymoon at Mount Airy Lodge in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Despite showing a copy of their reservation, the couple was turned away at the door. It was 1957. The couple is black. 

They spent their honeymoon at a black-owned hunting lodge. 

When the fifth graders heard the story, they were understandably horrified. Unlike dozens, possibly hundreds of others who had heard the Caldwells' story, those kids decided to do something about it.

Their research showed that the old Mount Airy Lodge closed down decades ago. A newer Mount Airy Casino Resort, no connection to the old Lodge, is now nearby. The students wrote individual letters to the current Resort's administration sharing the story of the Caldwells experience. One student's letter landed on the desk of Matthew Magda, the Resort's Vice President of Operations. Magda wrote back to the students, giving an offer the Caldwells won't refuse. A car will pick them up from their home and take them to the Resort for an all-expenses paid second honeymoon. The resort is even throwing in some casino spending money.

Of course, nothing can truly right the wrongs of decades past. But these students have had two important lessons reinforced: speaking up against injustice is powerful, and it's never too late to treat people decently.  

What I have in common with Meghan Markle

This week, millions of people were delighted to learn of Prince Harry's engagement to Meghan Markle.

Folks who know me will tell you - I don't keep up with pop culture. I didn't know much about this young woman, but I wanted to learn. I came across this video of a speech she gave at the 2015 UN Women's Conference.

The story she shares here reminds me of something I did at about eight- or nine-years-old. I spent part of my allowance on a cherry Tootsie Roll lollipop (my favorite.) When I got to the lollipop's center >gasp<  there was NO Tootsie Roll center! It was all lollipop.

I told my mom about my disappointment. She encouraged me to write a letter to the company, which I did. Together, we found the company's address, included the chewed-up stick and the colored wrapper as evidence with the letter, and mailed it off. Lo and behold, a couple weeks later, a package arrived addressed to me. Inside was a large box of Tootsie Roll lollipops with a letter of apology.

Now, I didn't keep the company's letter. The size of the box was probably smaller than I remember.  But one thing remains with me decades later - the lesson. I learned that complaining to people around me will do no good. I learned the power of speaking out against a wrong, be it small or large. I learned that the only way things will ever change is if I am part of the solution.

Based on her speech, that is a belief Meghan Markle also holds close.

If you're offended by talk of politics and religion, don't read this

This is unlike my usual blog posts. You've been warned.

If I learned one thing in my travels through the history of Nazi Germany, it was that the world needs more words and actions which support justice. Only through voices speaking in love and truth will change come about, injustice eradicated. 

We've all heard of the United Methodist pastor in Pennsylvania who performed the marriage service for his gay son and his fiance. The pastor underwent a church trial and has been defrocked for performing the service which violated the rules of the UM Book of Discipline. There has been quite a bit of discussion about this event on the UM Church's website and some eloquent, passionate pleas for a more loving approach to controversy.

I am not a pastor, nor am I schooled in the content of the Book of Discipline. But I am a member of the United Methodist church by choice. I try to live as a Christian, making mostly vain attempts at following Jesus' example of a loving, generous spirit.



The Jesus we know from Scripture spent his days ministering to the outcasts of society, those whose rights were limited by law and status. And he often blasted the Pharisees, the church rule-makers, for their hypocrisy and for attempting to speak for God. I have no doubt that, were he here in the flesh today, he would support gay marriage and bless it within a church. And he'd blast the use of a book of rules to make decisions over the use of God's love to accept and nurture his children.

Our days can be lonely, and commitment is hard to come by. Yet God created us to be in community, beginning with committed pairings and expanding out from there - couples, families, neighborhoods, church communities - people who will watch out for each other. Having others beside us as we dance with joy or slog through the muck of grief is what it's all about. It's what God planned for each and every one of his children.

As a member of God's family, I intend to honor that plan. I support Pastor Schaefer in his performance of the church marriage of two gay men, just as I support the church marriage of two committed people of any gender.  

Amen.