There is no smaller package in all the world than that of a man all wrapped up in himself.', 'Prophets from Amos and Isaiah to Gandhi and King have shown how frequently compassion demands confrontation. Rev. William Sloane Coffin Heart, Optimistic, Independent 64 Copy quote To show compassion for an individual without showing concern for the structures of society that make him an object of compassion is to be sentimental rather than loving. This reflects what that discomfort is and so nice to read it was written by a Reverend. You blew it. The one thing that should never be said when someone dies is It is the will of God. Never do we know enough to say that. So why the grief, self pity? Coffin to his congregation at the Riverside Church in New York City. I also know this day-brightener of a son wouldn't wish to be held close by grief (nor, for that matter, would any but the meanest of our beloved departed) and that, interestingly enough, when I mourn Alex least I see him best. In the fascinating documentary movie Mondo Cane' which was released in 1962, among the strange and seemingly depraved (to Western eyes) behavior is one segment about old people in China who wait around in the upper floor of a house to die while their families are downstairs at a party celebrating their deaths. Get All Beings Everywhere delivered to your inbox. As almost all of you know, a week ago last Monday night, driving in a terrible storm, my son Alexander who to his friends was a real day-brightener, and to his family fair as a star when only one is shining in the sky my twenty-four-year-old Alexander, who enjoyed beating his old man at every game and in every race, beat his father to the grave. Rememberallproceeds will go directly to support the WSC scholarships at Union Theological Seminary in N.Y.C. This album is a collection of prayers from the end of the sermons; 1977-1979. Well, so I wanted them to know, they had a pastor. You blew it. The one thing that should never be said when someone dies is It is the will of God. Never do we know enough to say that. As the grief that once seemed unbearable begins to turn now to bearable sorrow, the truths in the right biblical passages are beginning, once again, to take hold: Cast thy burden upon the Lord and He shall strengthen thee; Weeping may endure for the night but joy cometh in the morning; Lord, by thy favor thou hast made my mountain to stand strong; For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling; In this world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world; The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.. When a person dies, there are many things that can be said, and there is at least one thing that should never be said. For some reason, nothing so infuriates me as the incapacity of seemingly intelligent people to get it through their heads that God doesn't go around this world with his fingers on triggers, his fists around knives, his hands on steering wheels. Houseman, To an Athlete Dying Young. And I wept and I wept. Never do we know enough to say that. But I do not approve. How much suffering? The civil rights movement: What do you remember with the greatest pleasure or what was the greatest lesson of it? The world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love. The time you won your town the race I walked a mile with Sorrow I know how you feel I think you raise an important point when you say There are many kinds of silence, and one of them is a humbled, respectful listening silence John Wright #5 Sloan from Doonesbury; New Documentary: WWilliam Sloane Coffin: A Lover's . And early though the laurel grows As you look around the country today, I wonder whether you see an absence of commitment to great causes with great passion. in 1949. Just click the play button. Updated February 2023. Among the healing flood of letters that followed his death was one carrying this wonderful quote from the end of Hemingways A Farewell to Arms: The world breaks everyone, then some become strong at the broken places.. If a week ago last Monday, a lamp went out, it was because, for him at least, the Dawn had come. I do hope that many will learn what not to say to a grieving loved one. Embed. If a week ago last Monday, a lamp went out, it was because, for him at least, the Dawn had come. By a departing light William Sloane Coffin May God give you the grace never to sell yourself short; Grace to risk something big for something good; and Grace to remember the world is now too dangerous for anything but the truth and too small for anything but love. Theres something in the flight That clarifies the sight And decks the rays. William Sloane Coffin Jr. was an American Christian clergyman and long-time peace activist. We have to be forced down. My own broken heart is mending, and largely thanks to so many of you, my dear parishioners; for if in the last week I have relearned one lesson, it is that love not only begets love, it transmits strength. We should be able to plumb the depths of sadness and rise to the heights of joy, even ecstasy, though at my age, its not too easy. Q: It must make you terribly frustrated to see all the things you think are wrong and not being righted, and not be able to play the part in leading those movements that you once did. Until one has personally experienced the loss of a loved one, one can not understand the feelings about the death both positive and negative. So I shall so let us all seek consolation in that love which never dies, and find peace in the dazzling grace that always is. It is incredible and very powerful. RN: What about the Educational system as it relates to democracy? It seems to me for those believers who grieve, their religion brings them little more comfort than those who don't. Robert Browning Hamilton. She chattered all the way; William Sloane Coffin, Jr. was born June 1, 1924, in New York City. My own consolation lies in knowing that it was not the will of God that Alex die; that when the waves closed over the sinking car, Gods heart was the first of all our hearts to break. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But the things I learned from her What should churches be doing in the face of whats going on in our country right now? Even as he was trying to cooperate gracefully with the inevitability of death, he was also coaching Paul Newman to play the preacher in the film version of Marilynn Robinson's novel Gilead. That is what makes the valley of the shadow of death seem so incredibly dark and unending. Contributions to support this project can always be made through PayPal (david@davidcoffin.com). Because there are no rankling unanswered questions, and because Alex and I simply adored each other, the wound for me is deep, but clean. How are you able to look at the world as it is and still have the capacity for feeling joyful? If we (me included) could only get a fraction of a grasp between the difference between time and eternity we would cling much less to time and be closer to God's perspective. And decks the rays. While the words of the Bible are true, grief renders them unreal. Thought he was omnipotent and omnipresent. These are some of the popular topics this blog covers. Yale University's chaplain, the Rev. For instance, the Christians persecuted the Jews for nearly two thousand years because as they said, they believed the Jews killed Jesus. "A spiritual person tries less to be godly than to be deeply . But violent deaths, such as the one Alex died to understand those is a piece of cake. The older I get, the more I accept that death is the inevitable consequence of life, why can't believers? While I could never presume to know the answer, I do take comfort in this passage from the author Kate Braestrup, which I wrote in my final post on this blog (below). Different cultures have different views of death. And that's what hundreds of you understood so beautifully. He was a director, and later vice-president of W. & J. Sloane Company, his family's business, which was founded by his grandfather, William Sloane, from Kilmarnock, Scotland. Q: Where does the rise of conservatism, especially on the religious Right among Protestant evangelicals, fit into this whole thing? For all she had to say. If you aren't sure what RSS is you'll find our beginner's guide to RSS useful. ABERNETHY: Coffin became the leader of the U.S. campaign against nuclear weapons. Read more. We see acuter quite I read through this with utter esteem for the sentiments therein and Will is right to say that those who speak in response to a tragedy like this they could learn much from this eulogy, which said it all, so very very well. While the words of the Bible are true, grief renders them unreal. And then, Im a preacher. And ne'er a word said she; Townsman of a stiller town. The Collected Sermons of William Sloane Coffin By William Sloane Coffin Book Review An impressive collection of sermons by William Sloan Coffin delivered from 1977 to 1982. Letters to a Young Doubter By William Sloane Coffin Book Review Letters by the inimitable Christian progressive on faith, doubt, Jesus, and the insanities of a world awash . Robert Browning Hamilton. Q: How about your own death? Very on the point I think. Then, as I began to re-read it, I noticed that the guy's name is William Sloane Coffin. But the things I learned from her That's why immediately after such a tragedy people must come to your rescue, people who only want to hold your hand, not to quote anybody or even say anything, people who simply bring food and flowers the basics of beauty and life people who sign letters simply, "Your brokenhearted sister." William Sloane Coffin, Jr. was born on June 1, 1924, in New York City to William Sloane Coffin, Sr. and Catherine Butterfield Coffin. But like God herself, Scripture is not around for anyones protection, just for everyones unending support. William Sloane Coffin Jr. preached these Sunday sermons from the pulpit of the Riverside Church in New York City. When parents die, as my mother did last month, they take with them a large portion of the past. Some of the very best, and easily the worst, knew their Bibles better than the human condition. You gave me what God gives all of us minimum protection, maximum support. I know that. 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