by Karen Mercer
(Photo Illustration by the Daily Beast)
“In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.” (Proverbs 12:28)
Eric Zellinski,D.C., a public health researcher and a pioneer in the Biblical public health arena, stated that “death is a five letter one syllable word that is the summation of all our fears. Regardless of age, race, gender, religion or status, death is inevitable. The thought of dying and not knowing what comes next has been one of life’s most profound mysteries. “
A few months ago when John Lewis died, Rachel, our E-Seminarian, was impacted as many of us were by his death. She talked about how much she was learning about his life and legacy even though she was not a witness to his significant parts of his life’s journey, she took the time to learn more about him. What a wonderful way to honor this civil rights icon.
On September 18, 61 days after the death of Congressman Lewis, here we are again; mourning the death of a person who has had such a phenomenal impact on our lives and history. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a trailblazer, a woman-rights icon, a woman who continues to provide hope for young women everywhere in their quests to venture into corners of life that are sometimes unavailable to them.
The country’s response to our current loss is quite different than it was two months ago. Justice Ginsburg hadn’t been dead two hours before politicians and the media pivoted from her death to how it would impact our country in terms of the election and cases before the Supreme Court. This isn’t an unusual position for us; to be concerned about how someone’s death impacts “us;” it is natural. But shouldn’t we take a moment to remember and honor the life of this amazing woman?
It’s hard not go to the places of fear and anxiety in a time of uncertainty and grief. The disciples experienced the same at the death of Jesus. And Jesus attempted to prepare them when he said in John 16:20, “Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. “ The disciples were grief-stricken and at the same time fearful of the future for themselves and Christianity. Our reactions are not new or abnormal, they are in fact human reactions.
Today, I encourage you to reach out to a young person who may not really know the accomplishments of Justice Ginsburg and share the stories of her life with them. Or reach out to a friend or colleague who may have forgotten the major impact that she has had on our lives as citizens and on the lives of women in particular. Read the stories about her life; not just as a public servant, but as a young woman who lost her mother before graduating from high school. Learn about her academic achievements; one of nine women in her class of 552 men at Columbia Law School and tying for first in that class. Learn about her role as wife and mother. What a way to give honor to this woman; learn who she was. Allow yourself to grieve the loss of another beautiful life that we were blessed to witness.
The future will take care of itself; for just a little while, let us honor the life of RBG. And never forget that just as God was with the disciples, God is and will be with us.
Amen.