The prayer is especially meaningful to me because it comes from Dag Hammarskjold. He was a Swedish economist and diplomat who served as the General Secretary of The Untied Nations from 1953-61. He was also a person of deep Christian faith who was committed to both his own spiritual journey and working for world peace. He actively supported the newly formed African nations that gained independence from their former European colonizers. This brought him into conflict with powers in Europe that wanted to hold on to the resources of those new nations. He also played a major role in negotiating an end to the Suez Crisis of 1956 that threatened to escalate into a global conflict. In his book Streams of Living Water, Richard Foster shares the following quote by Dag Hammarskjold as he reflected on the the resolution of the Suez Crisis, “Your own efforts did not bring it to pass, only God – but rejoice if God found a use for your efforts in his work.” Tragically he was killed in a plane crash in September 1961 while negotiating a ceasefire during an armed conflict in Africa.
As we begin 2024, our nation and our world face many divisions and conflicts that threaten life as we know it. The words and witness of Dag Hammarskjöld continue to offer a way forward during these perilous times. He reminds us that it is not a choice between spiritual isolation and frantic activism. Rather our commitment to an intentional spiritual journey and practice is the foundation for our commitment to acting for peace and justice for all God’s children. The video posted below is a brief summary of the life of Dag Hammarskjöld and includes a poem of his read by his great niece. The poem called “Never Give Up” is a call to faith and perseverance in difficult times. The prayer quoted above and the poem from the video below provide a solid foundation for the year ahead.
Thanks to your support, we have now raised $17,995 for our year-end campaign, achieving our goal of raising $15K by Dec 31. Thank you!
Thanks also to two of our Cornelius Corps Board members, Rev. Adrienne Reedy and Rev. Stephen Reedy. While I am traveling during the next two weeks, they will share The Weekly Reflection with you.