Washington D.C. Day 2

Happy Father's Day from the city of our nations forefathers!
Today we set out to tackle the massive quest that is the Smithsonian Institute, starting with the American History Museum. Our timing could not have worked out better as, just as we arrived, a young man walked through the lobby of the museum bearing a sign saying "END SEGREGATION NOW" and singing a lovely call-and-response freedom song. He led a demonstration of the first sit-in at a Greensboro Woolworth's in 1960 and truly pushed the audience to define just what was wrong with segregation. In the end, the issue, like all those we are uprising justice for, was the personal impact; the destruction of families and community relationships that defines humanity was threatened, and people like the A&T Four (the first students to do a sit-in) found a non-violent way to change the system. This was a great start to the day as we continued to peruse the AHM, along with the Air & Space Museum, the Sculpture Garden, and the Natural History Museum.

Later, we worshipped at Foundry UMC near Dupont Circle. Upon merely walking in we were greeted by name-tags, a buffet of little goodies, and a very warm group of diverse people covering all of the groups mentioned in the service's motto: "Whoever you are-believer or doubter, gay or straight, republican or democrat-You are welcome here." The theme of the message was to live a life of total truth, a life worth losing some friends or enduring some struggles. Because by enveloping the truth in your soul, you so envelop the Holy Spirit. As an intro to our week at the General Board of Church & Society, this message inspires us on to whatever the rest of the week has in store!

Ideas for Action: Devote a day to being fully honest. Then another. Then a week. And start creating non-violent ways to treat those issues that currently plague our ability to feel God's ever-presence on Earth.