This week, early on Thursday morning, a quiet soul who had been in our midst, passed into the spiritual world. This was Elaine Maria Upton, who came to church regularly and then more sporadically as her health allowed.
She was a black woman who grew up in Sweetwater, TN and in spite of tremendous challenges, went on to college, became an artist, poet, musician, teacher of Russian literature, first class reader and follower of Christ.
She bore witness to Christ’s presence in everything she did; in human relationships, in her writing and in her work.
Elaine wrote two novels describing her life in Sweetwater with great insight and love but also exposing injustices and individuals. So in compassion for the people she might hurt, she decided to burn the novels rather than publish them. (despite her publisher calling one a “masterpiece.”)
This morning in the Gospel reading, Christ asks the disciples, “And you, who do you say that I am? “ Peter bears witness: “You are the Christ, the son of the Living God.” Peter has recognition in a flash of insight but he loses it only a minute later. When Christ describes how the Son of Man will be mistreated and eventually put to death, he makes objections. Then Christ has to say “Get behind me Satan!” Peter is speaking merely out of earthly awareness.
Is this not our predicament? We lose sight of the presence of Christ again and again! We may see the higher being in another person one minute and the next minute we cast them aside or criticize them. What do we need to cultivate so that we “stay with it?” Can we bear witness to Christ in our very being, without talking about Him? Can we make His presence manifest in our creating, in our way of life? Otherwise, what are we doing here?
“What use is it to a human being to gain the whole world and yet be impoverished in his soul? What could a human being give as a ransom for his soul?”
Our souls are the realm of our human freedom. We can decide how we respond to people and events around us. For this reason, we are under constant attack by the Adversary. Our souls are the battleground between good and evil, truth and falsehood, materialism and spirit consciousness.
The ship has sailed and there will be no rest. The wind and the waters are mostly tumultuous. The one thing we have is the mast with the crossbar within our very being, the Christ in us.
The practice of maintaining Christ consciousness is motivated by love. It is for love of truth, love for human beings and love of the earth that we pursue this. And we can have the trust that at the threshold of our vision, of our knowing, that something comes to meet us. Spiritual Beings, Angels, will meet us where we are and lead us on.
Bearing witness is no small thing. It is a powerful force in the world. But it is a quiet power.
Elaine Maria Upton b. Dec. 22, 1945 // d. July 19, 2023
“May we know that in our small, imperfect love,
We bear the love of Christ
Whose power lies in the relinquishing thereof. “
-Wendell Berry