I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, but when someone writes or says, “This is what you shall do,” the hair on the back of my neck rises up a bit. I’m almost 80, and you’re telling me what to do? Come on, show some respect for my years of experience making my own mistakes and celebrating my successes. I do, however, think that Walt Whitman, a great American poet from the 19th century, has some very useful suggestions for our world today.
Who would argue that the earth, sun, and animals, indeed all of creation, need our love, care, and concern? I’m not one to blame us for all that‘s happening to this planet, but I certainly know that we need to do our part to keep it livable or we will not survive. The earth may survive, but we as such a dependent species will not survive unless we help make the changes necessary to keep our place on the planet.
Who of us, rich or poor, can say we would despise riches when we live in a world where much of the economy is based on consumerism, exploiting resources, and waging wars for economic and other reasons? Do I really want to give alms to everyone who asks? In light of my personal budget restraints as someone who has taken a vow of poverty, I’ve had to limit just how much of my budget I can give away regarding alms/money. I can, however, give of my time and talents as I see the needs arise around me.
I don’t agree with the language Whitman uses when he says, “stand up for the stupid and the crazy,” but I think I get the gist of what he means. Interesting choice of words for his time and hopefully used less among us these days. I taught elementary school for ten years and worked hard with students who were challenged by the way we presented lessons that were difficult for them to grasp. We may now have gentler words to describe children and adults with learning issues, but I’m not sure we have changed our attitude toward them. In today’s world where so much of gun violence is blamed on mental illness, it requires some deep reflection on just what is going on in the mind of the perpetrator, in his/ her family, in the social structures around the event and the culture.
When told to “devote your income and labor to others,” I see a different way of looking at why I work and with and for whom I work. This phrase is especially meaningful to me as a vowed religious woman, a Catholic Sister, because the Sisters in this country have done just that. They have devoted their income and service, especially in schools and hospitals, to others. It is even more evident now than in previous years, when there are fewer women (and men) dedicating their lives to others in a special way. I do see the younger generations, however, working to help the most vulnerable among us and willingly serving the needs of the poor, immigrants, homeless, addicts, etc. in ways that give me hope for the future.
I don’t “hate tyrants” because I feel that we become like those we hate. I do, however, speak and write about them and learn all I can so I can understand where they come from and why they speak and act the way they do.
It is fascinating to me that Whitman warns us not to argue about things concerning God. It seems to me that he is warning us not to use God as an excuse for our mistakes. As I write and reflect on Walt Whitman’s words of wisdom from the 19th century, I am also reminded of the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament where we are mostly told what we shall not do, and the Beatitudes in the New Testament that tell us we will be blessed and rewarded for being our better selves. I would hope that this all leads us to working for a more peaceful world. Amen.
Sister Mary Thill is a Sylvania Franciscan Sister. She can be reached at mthill@sistersosf.org. ✲
This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to everyone that asks, stand up for the stupid and the crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God.
- Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass,1855
