Sunday afternoon 9 people from Lakewood UCC went to the Publix Headquarters in Lakeland to be part of the finale of the farmworker march from Ft. Myers to Lakeland.
It was inspiring. There was an incredibly diverse group of people including many, many young people. People were there from all over the country. They had flown in specifically to attend this event. It made me realize that this is part of a much bigger movement. While we think of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) as a local group, which they are, they are also of world renown. The Coalition has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize and they are known not only in Florida and the US, but around the world. They are considered a premier model for effective non violent change.
The motto for the CIW used to be “Se si puede” meaning it can be done or we can do it. Today there was a different chant. An adaptation. I was with Claudia Rodriguez, our Nursery Attendant, who speaks Spanish, and I asked her , “What does this new chant mean?” She said it was in the past tense: “’It has been done,’ or ‘We did it.’”
While the CIW is still trying to get Publix to come to the table to discuss the Fair Food agreement, they have successfully negotiated agreements with 11 other major food corporations including Burger King, Taco Bell, McDonald’s, Subway and Pizza Hut. This “has been done.” So, there is a new motto.
Sometimes when we are working for change or trying to accomplish something that is important to us, we may be focussing on what is yet to be accomplished. And we may lose sight of what has already been done. Again and again in the Bible the people recount the amazing things that God has done for them in the past. This gives them hope and strength in the present as they work for a new future. It is important for us in our spiritual lives and in our life together as a church to celebrate how far we have come, what we have been able to accomplish, the positive change that has already occurred. This then inspires us to keep up our efforts and not to give up. Let’s make sure that we are not ignoring what “has been done.”
Prayer: Sometimes we can only see that the glass is half empty. May we have eyes to see how far we have come and to pay attention to the strides that have been made that deserve to be celebrated. This gives us strength and hope to continue the struggle. When we see what God has done and is doing, we can trust that eventually our efforts for justice will bear fruit. God does not give up on us. May we not give up. Amen.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 