Love III
Contributed by Stephen Wickman, St. Thomas Episcopal, McLean
We had finished rehearsing the anthem for Palm Sunday, “Love Bade Me Welcome,” when the diminutive and pleasant soprano sitting next to me turned and whispered: “I really hate this piece.” I said: “Not the music, right? It’s great. You must not like George Herbert.” She nodded.
George does not fit everyone’s taste. As the Poetry Foundation tells it (George Herbert | The Poetry Foundation) the Anglican clergyman is “nestled” squarely (or maybe roundly) in the age of Shakespeare and Milton, though his poetry would have later influence on the likes of Coleridge, Emerson, Dickinson, Hopkins, Eliot, Auden, Bishop, Anthony Hecht, and, “perhaps Robert Frost—although these later poets are more abstract in their devotion to Herbert than were his 17th-century followers.” They attribute much of Herbert’s early popularity—there were at least 11 editions of his major work, published ironically, after he died—to the carefully crafted persona of “holy Mr. Herbert” put forth by his custodians.
The most famous musical setting of this poem — the last in the compilation known as The Temple — is by Ralph Vaugh Williams (https://youtu.be/JcmkXuZyRz8). We sang an even more modern setting last Sunday, and I don’t know about you, but in this Passover/Easter/Ramadan season, the last line packs a wallop, especially for Episcopalians like me. It is so difficult for modern folks to understand, that the Poetry Foundation has even included a guide! Love (III) | The Poetry Foundation. Here is the poem.
LOVE bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
If I lack’d anything.
‘A guest,’ I answer’d, ‘worthy to be here:’
Love said, ‘You shall be he.’
‘I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,
I cannot look on Thee.’
Love took my hand and smiling did reply,
‘Who made the eyes but I?’
‘Truth, Lord; but I have marr’d them: let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.’
‘And know you not,’ says Love, ‘Who bore the blame?’
‘My dear, then I will serve.’
‘You must sit down,’ says Love, ‘and taste my meat.’
So I did sit and eat.
Here’s some of what the “guide” says about it, ending with one of my favorite words, “ambivalence.”
The poem’s last line, “So I did sit and eat,” seems unequivocal: Herbert has found his place at God’s table. Herbert’s almost interchangeable use of “Love” for “Lord” in this poem is worth noticing: “Love (III)” is the ultimate poem in a triptych on the subject. The earlier poems attempt to reclaim the term “love,” which has been sullied by secular usage. “Love (I)” opens by praising “Immortal Love, author of this great frame,” and mourning that “mortal love doth all the title gain”; “Love (II)” also addresses itself to “Love,” distinguishing between God’s “Immortal Heat” and the “usurping lust” we mortal humans mistakenly call love. As the culminating poem in the series, “Love (III)” seems to firmly settle which kind of “Love” Herbert intends to celebrate. But the poem also purports to show how God is Love—through its emphasis on God’s role as host.
Herbert’s portrait of God-as-Love has long been admired as the crowning achievement of The Temple. The philosopher Simone Weil famously had a religious experience as she recited “Love (III): “Often, at the culminating point of a violent headache,” she wrote in her Spiritual Autobiography. “I make myself say it over, concentrating all my attention upon it and clinging with all my soul to the tenderness it enshrines… It was during one of these recitations that, as I told you, Christ himself came down and took possession of me.” Yet despite the “tenderness” Weil noted, much of the poem remains equivocal, even stubbornly so. A reader looking for a tidy—or happy—ending to Herbert’s project might end up troubled by the poem’s surprising and insistent ambivalences.
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
Contributed by Stephen Wickman, St. Thomas Episcopal, McLean
Just in time for Passover and Holy Week, after Ramadan, and just as we face earth-shattering tariff and other wars, the 2025 World Happiness Report reminds us what we already know from our various faith traditions: money isn’t everything WHR Dashboard.
While there is a strong correlation between GDP and happiness, Finland, number 15 in the GDP per capita parade, is once again the world’s happiest country for seven years in a row.
The United States (number 4 in income per capita) has fallen out of the top twenty, behind Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Netherlands, Costa Rica, Norway, Israel, Luxembourg, Mexico (ole!), Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Belgium, Ireland, Lithuania (!), Austria, Canada (maybe we should become the eleventh province or even a territory), Slovenia, Czechia, United Arab Emirates, Germany, and even our ex-colonial master, the UK.
The snarky “Economist” magazine admits that gender equality, trust in national institutions and fellow citizens, and low corruption are all important factors in Finland’s happiness rating, and it is fitting that in Finland became the first country in the world to give women both the full right to vote and to run in parliamentary elections. And when Reader’s Digest “lost” 12 wallets containing cash and contact details to test the honesty of citizens in 16 cities around the world, Helsinki was tops.
Oh, and Finland has excellent free education, universal health care and family-friendly policies. Health services are not totally free, but they are affordable.
The authors find that caring and sharing, especially socializing with others, maintaining connections, sharing meals, living with others, stressing family bonds, supporting others through prosocial behavior, trusting others, and giving to others, all lead to greater happiness. Unhappiness and social distrust, however, lead to a destructive form of “populism.”
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
Contributed by Susan Posey, Redeemer Lutheran, McLean
This past week I watched with wonder as spring really made its presence known. The sprays of yellow, pink and white blossoms on the trees and pushing up through the ground, the warmer temperatures, all served to remind me that no matter our human challenges and travails, our Creator (and nature) is constant. I look forward to long walks, working in the garden and even reading on my porch again. Oh, and baseball started again. All good for the soul.
And speaking of gardening, I found in our Fairfax County Supervisor, Jimmy Bierman’s newsletter, a segment on spring gardening and growing which links to a county webpage entitled Think Spring! 12 Ways to Get Ready for Gardening and Growing Season. This page contains links to all sorts of things, such as how to get advice from a Master Gardener, how to get free mulch, and a list of local farmers markets.
The temperatures may continue to go up and down for a while, but there is no doubt that the rebirth of nature is upon us, thanks be to God. May the season bring hope and rejuvenation to us all.
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
Contributed by: Anonymous
On Sunday, February 9, 2025, about 35 people gathered for a multi-faith devotional organized by members of the Tysons Interfaith group. Held in the home of one of the members in Alexandria, the gathering honored the victims, first responders, and families affected by the recent air crash in Washington, DC.
Representatives from Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and the Baha’i faiths shared prayers and reflections on life’s purpose and humanity’s spiritual journey. As prayers were offered, a deep sense of unity, compassion, and peace filled the room, highlighting our shared values and common spiritual aspirations.
The evening was a reminder that in honoring our diversity, we can also find strength, harmony, and hope in building a more united world.
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
Contributed by Andra Baylus, Regional Director of the Meher Baba Spiritual Community
You will enjoy this story which has become a classic during interfaith gatherings for Ramadan:
Years ago, before I retired, I taught ESOL ( English Speakers of Other Languages) in a middle school in Fairfax County. I had 15 children in one of my English classes, most of whom were Muslim. When I looked out at my ESOL English class, it was as though many of the people whom we associate with the religion of Islam were sitting right in front of me studying at their desks: Muhammad, Qadir, Kadija, Ali, Yusuf, Musa, Mariam, etc.
Ramadan had arrived and my Muslim students who were fasting were invited to come to the library to avoid the tempting aromas of the delicious food they otherwise would be eating. I felt they would be far more comfortable coming to their own ESOL classroom where they would be relaxed, as if they were in their own homes. It dawned on me, however, that it would be terribly insensitive of me to invite them to my classroom and then proceed to eat my lunch in front of them. At that moment, I decided that the most thoughtful thing to do was to fast along with my Muslim students. So, I began fasting….
I was friends with Negat, the ESOL teacher across the hallway, and knew that as an Egyptian Muslim she would find it interesting that I was fasting for Ramadan. So, before classes began one morning, having embarked upon fasting for Ramadan for the first time in my life, I eagerly approached her and happily shared that I was joining her and was fasting for Ramadan. I excitedly shared that I had not had anything to eat or drink in 3 days. Instead of being as encouraging as I had hoped for, she quickly responded, seemingly in shock, “You haven’t had anything to eat or drink in 3 days?” I proudly answered, “No, of course not, I made a commitment to fasting for Ramadan just like you.” Negat burst out laughing and said, “Andra, we don’t do it that way! We eat breakfast before the sun comes up and eat dinner after the sun goes down!” I let out a sigh of relief saying, “Oh my goodness Negat! I was not going to eat or drink anything for 30 days! I felt if you could do it, so could I.” This was a moment in time Negat and I will always cherish.
I continued to fast, this time more intelligently than before since I was inspired to learn more about Ramadan. During my fasting experience, I noticed some interesting changes. I actually felt closer to every human being ~ especially those suffering food scarcity. I wanted all the more to help them and did whenever I saw the opportunity to donate to a worthy cause. My heart seemed more open and I became more sensitive to the world around me and even more appreciative of the Divine orchestration of life with all of its creative forms and species. I found myself not wanting to harm any creatures whether large or small. I began taking even better care of my plants making sure they had appropriate water and pruning. Regarding everyday tasks, not being distracted by the concerns of preparing or imbibing food, actually opened up more time to focus and accomplish tasks previously put aside. Most especially, Ramadan became a time to rethink my perspective in areas of my life which I had not considered as carefully during other parts of the year. I thought about the myriad of roles I play with family, friends and colleagues and how I might enhance those relationships.
The beauty of our varied religious paths is that embedded within our respective religions are ways the Divine has ensured moments when we are encouraged to rethink and refresh our lives in order to enhance the years that we have upon this earth. One of these spiritual practices is fasting, which I have personally experienced yields many benefits. Though I fasted for 15 years and stopped for 3, once again I am going to fast during this most challenging year and beseech the “Divine By All Names” to ~ “ Guide us on the right path…” as is written in the Fatiha, the most sacred prayer in Islam. So far, the good news is that, having fasted for just one day, I am more at peace with global events and reinvigorated to be a better family member, friend and colleague and to live a more purposeful life using my gifts, skills and talents to bless the world.
What a blessing Ramadan is!
To learn more about the special holiday of Ramadan in Islam, you may find this information helpful:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ramadan
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
I went to church last Sunday. The Gospel reading was the words of Jesus in Luke 6: 27-38.
“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (New Revised Standard Version of the Bible)
That is a lot to process. Especially here and now when so much of what I hear in today’s news upsets and angers me. Things that are happening are painful to me and do not jibe with, indeed are opposite of my understanding of God and country. So, how am I supposed to incorporate this text into my life?
Helping me to grapple with this question comes big, strapping Max Miller, a not yet thirty-year-old seminarian with a Duke Divinity degree. This wise-beyond-his-years soul whom I have known since he was a child growing up in our congregation is now on his way to becoming a called and ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Max delivered for me.
In his sermon on this Gospel text, Max reminded us that the practice of loving your enemy has already moved mountains in our country! He used the examples of Jackie Robinson, Reverend Pauli Murray, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., all of whom helped us to evolve as a country by their example of love for ALL of their fellow humans. This radical love did not mean that they were doormats or were silent in the face of evil. Rather, it meant that they confronted these challenges not with violence or degradation of others, but with love. God’s love. And you can’t beat that.
The text of Max’s sermon can be found here and a video recording of his sermon can be found here.
I hope this Gospel text and Max’s observations on it give you food for thought and encouragement as they did me.
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
Contributed by: Lois Herr– First Church of Christ, Scientist, McLean
Many people set aside time in their day for prayer, reflection, or meditation. As a Christian Science practitioner, I often find inspiration in daily audio reflections, called the Daily Lift, and presented by members of our church.
A recent timely Daily Lift by Karen Neff, a Christian Science Practitioner from Mystic, Connecticut, is entitled, “Infinite good is always available.” In this segment, Karen shares about her own experience in life, and how she came to understand that even in challenging times we always have access to all that we need as God’s beloved spiritual creation.
The Daily Lift is comprised of audio presentations contributed by Christian Science church members worldwide – with the majority coming from the U.S. This particular Lift will remain on the website for thirty days before being retired.
May this segment bring you peace and encouragement.
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
Contributed by Andra Baylus, Regional Director of the Meher Baba Spiritual Community
I recently became aware of the Islamic observation of Barat. Because I love to learn about the observations of different faith traditions, I did some research and learned the following:
Shab-e-Barat or “The Night of Forgiveness” is one of the most sacred nights in Islamic tradition, celebrated by millions of Muslims worldwide. It has various names worldwide, such as Cheragh-e-Barat, Berat Kandili or Nisfu Syaaban.
Shab-e-Barat is believed to be the night in which Allah (SWT) grants forgiveness and mercy to all his believers who repent for their sins and wrongdoings.
This holy night occurs on the 15th of Shaban, the eighth month of the lunar calendar in Islam. The Persian word “Shab” means “night” while “Barat” is an Arabic word meaning “forgiveness” or “salvation.” The term together represents the night in which Muslims turn to Allah (SWT) for salvation, mercy, and forgiveness.
It is a period of spiritual reflection, praying, and remembrance and is regarded as a chance for everyone to call for redemption from their past sins and start a new reformed life. It is one of the most sacred nights in Islam, similar to the nights of Laylat al-Qadr.
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
Contributed by Rev. Dr. Trish Hall, Center for Spiritual Living
There are two people at the top of my list of heroes, Mohandus Gandhi, the Mahatma, and Rev Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. I instantly became a “Gandhian” as a child, the first time I read about him and how he looked at the world differently from almost everyone and yet his way aligned with the depth of my being. What Gandhi stood for made sense to me at a soul level. When I discovered that Rev Dr Martin Luther King, Jr, embraced Gandhi’s approach – that he recognized nonviolence as the right way (the only truly sustainable way) to confront the atrocities being perpetrated against blacks, I knew – again at the soul level – that I needed to take a stand and do whatever I could to support and further Dr. King’s work.
Recently, I was researching the relationship between King and Gandhi. I discovered that Dr King, eager to learn all he could about nonviolent resistance, had sought out Gandhi and his teachings. Dr King deeply connected with Gandhi’s approach and put it to work. Dr. King was the embodiment of nonviolent action.
My research revealed an article that was new to me in form, yet familiar to me in content. Dr King wrote the article, “My Trip to the Land of Gandhi,” four weeks after his return from a tour of India. It was published in Ebony in July 1959. Although Dr King’s trip to India took place 3 years after the great day of bus integration, December 21, 1956, he spoke often of how “India’s Gandhi” had been the guiding light of our technique of nonviolent social change while the Montgomery boycott was going on.
Dr King began his article … “… Even as a child the entire Orient held a strange fascination for me—the elephants, the tigers, the temples, the snake charmers and all the other storybook characters.” Dr King was a man of insatiable curiosity and wonder.
He shared that the trip had a great impact upon him personally. It had been humbling to be in Gandhi’s land, to talk with his son, his grandsons, his cousin and other relatives; to share the reminiscences of his close comrades; to visit his ashrama, to see the countless memorials for him and finally to lay a wreath on his entombed ashes at Rajghat. Dr King left India more convinced than ever before that nonviolent resistance was the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom. It was a marvelous thing for him to see the amazing results of a nonviolent campaign.
He was astounded that the usual aftermath of hatred and bitterness following a violent campaign were nowhere to be found. Instead, he discovered mutual friendship based on complete equality between the Indian and British people within the commonwealth.
Kingian Wisdom: The way of acquiescence leads to moral and spiritual suicide. The way of violence leads to bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers. But the way of nonviolence leads to redemption and the creation of the beloved community.
Some assert that nonviolent resistance can only work in a situation where the resisters have a potential ally in the conscience of the opponent. Dr King disagreed and asserted that that perspective was completely wrong and arose from confusing passive resistance with nonresistance.
Kingian Wisdom: True nonviolent resistance is not unrealistic submission to evil power. It is rather a courageous confrontation of evil by the power of love, in the faith that it is better to be the recipient of violence than the inflictor of it, since the latter only multiplies the existence of violence and bitterness in the universe, while the former may develop a sense of shame in the opponent, and thereby bring about a transformation and change of heart.
Nonviolent resistance does call for love, but it is not a sentimental love. It is a very stern love that would organize itself into collective action to right a wrong by taking on itself suffering.
Gandhi modeled how to live one’s beliefs by taking “untouchables” – those he renamed “Harijans” (“children of God”) – by the hand and leading them into the temples from which they had been excluded.
Seeing India through Dr King’s eyes expanded my sense of how deeply he embraced Gandhian teaching. I sensed his frustration that amid the poverty and overcrowding of India they had made more progress in dealing with the caste system than the US had with racial injustice. The difference he identified was that the foundation of their approach rested on moral ground – something lacking from the US approach.
Dr King walked with people in pursuit of freedom and equality. He called us out for having not made more progress and admonished us to heed the Indian example and resolve our blatant racial discrimination.
The article was written in 1959 – 65 years ago. How have we progressed? What grades would Dr. King put on our report card?
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.
Contributed by Andra Baylus, Regional Director of the Meher Baba Spiritual Community
The First Amendment creates the very space upon which Tysons Interfaith and other interfaith organizations function as we go about the business of interfaith bridge building to create opportunities for spiritual connection, learn about different faith traditions and serve others who are part of one human family.
It is especially meaningful to be reminded of the First Amendment as we approach the installation of our new administration whose governance agenda will be bound, by law, to uphold the tenets expressed within the First Amendment guaranteeing religious freedom for all faith traditions.
The following thoughts about Religious Freedom Day, shared with me by a friend, should be a source of comfort –that the First Amendment of our Constitution will ensure the success of future interfaith bridge building activities and protect the religious freedoms of all citizens of the United States:
Honoring All Paths
National Religious Freedom Day – January 16 – is a time to remember and praise the tenets of liberty, equality, and dignity for everyone. That freedom is guaranteed in the First Amendment of the Constitution, adopted in 1791, which says: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Inherent in our celebration of religious freedom, is the right to also live with freedom of speech, of the press, and the freedom of assembly.
To restrict these freedoms is to undermine the equality, dignity, and respect of our brothers and sisters. Religious freedom makes it possible – and even legal – to publicly honor all faiths, to draw wisdom from diverse spiritual paths. In essence, the New Thought philosophy – and the teaching of it – would not have been allowed without the guarantee of this freedom.
The groundwork for this liberty was established in the 17th century when thousands of Catholics, Puritans, and other religious freethinkers were facing harassment and persecution by the Church of England, which sought to inaugurate itself as the mandatory religion of the nation. The dissenters, who vowed to not be bound by these conditions, showed great dedication and courage in boarding ships for the “New World.”
This blog post is the expressed opinion of its writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Tysons Interfaith or its members.