Brian’s Reflection: Monday, June 14, 2010

At the risk of seeming ridiculous, let me say
that the true revolutionary is guided by a great
feeling of love. It is impossible to think of a
genuine revolutionary lacking this quality.

Che Guevara, revolutionary, born on this
date, 1928


“Re-volvere” – late Latin. To “roll back”, or “to turn upside down”. Hmmmm.

We tend to associate revolutionaries with violence. That is a mistake. Jesus and Gandhi and the Buddha were non-violent. Guevara (who was killed with the direct assistance of the American CIA, as is publicly acknowledged) used violence. As have many other revolutionaries. It is a question of temperament, and of political situation, among other things. Khomeini is an example of a revolutionary who turned everything upside down but, in my view, in a completely negative way – though that is my prejudice. It is interesting to look at the World today and see the “revolutionaries” – and what motivates them, and if we think it’s a good or a bad thing they have instigated. Depends, I guess, on whose ox is being gored. Harvey Milk and Bishop Gene Robinson are two of my beloved (non-violent) revolutionaries! You are not surprised, right?! (Oh Brian! So self-serving!)

In matters of the human spirit, all Lovers are revolutionaries! To themselves and to others. Love is by its very nature revolutionary. Nothing rolls back selfishness and self-preoccupation and self-absorption like Love. When Love flows it’s like a great flood; the heart and the mind and the spirit are swept away, turned upside down. And to be the recipient of Love does the same for the Beloved – turns you head over heels.

A wonderful moment of that happened today at St. Paul’s Cathedral, San Diego, where Dennis and now live. Bishop Gene Robinson (a seminary classmate of mine), the Bishop of New Hampshire who was, as a Gay partnered man, elected overwhelmingly by the Episcopalians of NH, was the preacher. After the Forum, the Dean pointed to a young couple with a month old tiny baby named Ellie. This was Ellie’s first day “in church” – and the Dean noted that her parents had become Episcopalians because, they said, “they wanted to be part of a church that had the courage to elect a man like Bishop Gene”. The parents’ lives had been revolutionized by the love and courage of the Episcopal folk of New Hampshire, and it was clear at that moment, as Gene went to talk to them and hold Ellie, that he had been touched by Love!

What the World needs is a band of Revolutionary Lovers. People who are amazed and delighted by human beings. Who see and honour the image of the God of Love in all people.

I’m in. Join me?

Brian+