Yesterday would have been the 103rd birthday of the Jesuit priest and poet and social activist Daniel Berrigan, SJ. , who died at 94. His life was almost too full to be summarized. Instead here is a list of his
"Ten Commandments for the Long Haul," written in his typically prophetic and poetic style. (Thanks to Jim Forest for this photo of Dan.)
"Ten Commandments for the Long Haul"
1) Call on Jesus when all else fails. Call on Him when all else succeeds (except that never happens).
2) Don't be afraid to be afraid or appalled to be appalled. How do you think the trees feel these days, or the whales, or, for that matter, most humans?
3) Keep your soul to yourself. Soul is a possession worth paying for, they're growing rarer. Learn from monks, (and Sufis) they have secrets worth knowing.
4) About practically everything in the world, there's nothing you can do. This is Socratic wisdom. However, about of few things you can do something. Do it, with a good heart.
5) On a long drive, there's bound to be a dull stretch or two. Don't go anywhere with someone who expects you to be interesting all the time. And don't be hard on your fellow travelers. Try to smile after a coffee stop.
(And stop frequently to stretch)
6) Practically no one has the stomach to love you, if you don't love yourself. They just endure. So do you. (Most folks don’t love themselves enough. A good partner can remind you how)
7) About healing: The gospels tell us that this was Jesus' specialty and he was heard to say: "Take up your couch and walk!" your (deep gentle breaths help everything)
8) When traveling on an airplane, watch the movie, but don't use the earphones. Then you'll be able to see what's going on, but not understand what's happening, and so you'll feel right at home, little different then you do on the ground. (Ha ha ha)
9) Know that sometimes the only writing material you have is your own blood. (Hmmm)
10) Start with the impossible. Proceed calmly towards the improbable. No worry, there are at least five exits. (Have goals)
"We pour our blood at G.E. to proclaim the sin of mass destruction. In the words of my brother Daniel, we are confronting the 'spiritually insane.' Confronting not with mere words but through symbols. Our blood confronts the irrational, makes megadeath concrete, summons the warmakers to their senses."
Philip Berrigan, Fighting the Lamb's War: Skirmishes with the American Empire
