An All American Labor Day

An All American Labor Day

“O Danny Boy

The pipes, the pipes are calling

From glen to glen

And down the mountainside”

Cindy McCain held it together until that song. And then she broke down. And so did I. The quiet dignity of a service from the National Cathedral, the honor and integrity of our call to higher service, reflected as it was in the life of John McCain. Meghan McCain, Henry Kissinger, Presidents George W. Bush, and Barack Obama were all able to articulate something we needed to hear. Their soaring rhetoric made us one even if for only a few hours. 

For one brief shining moment we saw a Nation One. We put aside our partisanship and our divisions. We honored a man who is a man of honor. 

But also on this weekend, we celebrated the life of Aretha Franklin. What a woman! Talk about an American Original! What more fitting way to recognize Labor Day weekend in these United States of America but to give thanks to God for these two great gifted American icons who reflect that which is best about us.

A war hero and the Queen of Soul. 

The soul of America, something very, very restrained at the National Cathedral, and the boisterous bellowing joy of Gospel music. Black America and White America reaching out to one another, embracing one another in a manner utterly unlike the confrontational style and violence that has far too often marred our history. 

In one brief shining moment we got a glimpse of who we can be when listening to the soul song of our better angels. A soul that is not black or white, rich or poor, native or foreign born but the human soul song that unites us and makes us one.

It was a respite this Labor Day weekend; a brief and shining moment. The soaring rhetoric and exquisite music from Washington DC and Detroit Michigan so different in idiom, yet so unique and so American. The creative energy of Aretha Franklin the exquisite precision of the Cathedral’s Choir, pipe organ, the Naval Academy Glee Club, and “Danny Boy” sung by Renee Fleming. The music of America so different and so much of same human soul.  

Race ethnicity, gender, orientation, class, nationality…

John McCain and Aretha Franklin spoke and sang to us all a love song of life.

Like the Song of Solomon sings from today’s First Lesson.

"Arise, my love, my fair one,

and come away;

The flowers appear on the earth;

the time of singing has come,”

Our readings today speak the kind of intimate love that we know about in family, politics and music. John McCain loved a good fight but then immediately could reach across the aisle in collaboration and friendship. Aretha Franklin fought for us too and then could reach across the racial divide in Gospel soul songs. Both feisty and ebullient; one of a kind, full of joy and wonder; American Originals.

This weekend we soared on the wings of their oratory and their music. 

It is a tribute to John McCain that when his last breath was taken two of his most ardent opponents would bid him farewell. One Republican one Democrat. One white one black. And all who listened; “One Nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all”…no exceptions. A soaring, uplifting weekend. 

This is who we can be. I think this is who we really are. 

Like John McCain, yes we speak forcefully, sometimes angrily.

But then we move on to set that aside the anger, forgive and reconcile and find a way forward, together.

Like Aretha Franklin, we can see injustice and yet set our lives to the cause of Civil Rights, equality and justice, whatever race or gender, orientation or human condition. And then, O my how she could sing and inspire our souls to lift us up to higher ground. 

We are in danger if we forget how to do that. 

John McCain and Aretha Franklin are gone now and who is there to fill the void?

It has been said that we are right wingers and left wingers. 

And everybody in between. Many of us can be downright outspoken. 

If we are divided by that, we become unable to function.

Gridlock may set in. We’re grounded! 

The symbol of this great nation is the soaring American Bald Eagle.

It takes two wings for that bird to fly.

The wing span of that Eagle can extend to almost 8 feet. 

If that bird doesn’t have both wings, if that bird cannot get off the ground it is in mortal danger. 

It makes me mindful of Ben Franklin’s ascerbic comment on what our national bird should be. He suggested the turkey. Its not too bright, it will never get off the ground, and its only good for dinner once or twice a year.

Imagine the eagle though. As the Psalmist sings; “I will raise you up on Eagle’s wings!” ~Psalm 91

One brief shining moment this weekend our spirits soared at the National Cathedral and at the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit.

I thought of both John McCain and Aretha Franklin when I read today’s Epistle from James, the beloved brother of our Lord; 

“Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” Their gifts, generous and gracious indeed came down from Father of lights and my God how they did shine!

In today’s Gospel of course it was the Pharisees and scribes who accused the disciples of dishonoring the traditions of faith. They did not wash their hands and and they did not honor external signs of the faith of our ancestors. But Jesus was onto them; Look, he said; “it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly.”

Yep, he was onto them.

No this weekend we celebrate two Great Souls who lifted us up, far up from the folly of foolishness.

How then shall we be when Tuesday comes and the Labor Day weekend is over. Back to the same? …or shall we move America on to the soaring symbol of who we saw ourselves to be at the inception of the Republic.

Earth bound turkeys?

Or soaring Eagles?

That choice is ours to make every day of our lives.

In the Name of God; the Most Holy, Undivided, and Everlasting Trinity.

Amen.

Fr Paul