A long time ago when I was a senior in high school, I went on a spiritual retreat with my classmates. It was a two-night sojourn at the Immaculata Retreat House which was located in Willimantic Connecticut for over 60 years, closing in February 2018. The time was specifically designed for students as they graduated from high school and began the transition to college or work. This was in 1965. 

I recently found two souvenirs from that retreat: a small booklet, given to us to record our thoughts and prayers during the retreat; and a hard cover book by Joseph R. Washington, Jr. BLACK RELIGION-the Negro and Christianity in the United States which cost me $5.00 in their gift store. 

Five Dollars at that time of my life was a LOT of money. I have a vague idea as to why I bought that book and why I still have it. I did not read the whole book. I read enough to know that it was criticism of religious practices that kept blacks and whites separate.  

Dr. Washington’s premise was that Christianity could not be fulfilled for Blacks “…until the entire white community, not just the benevolent and paternalistic missionary, is willing to get in and sit beside him.”  (From the Dust Jacket of the book BLACK RELIGION-the Negro and Christianity in the United States)   

This was in 1965, a time of controversy as far as segregation was concerned. I was very interested in the topic of segregation even without ever having had an opportunity to live near people of color. I really couldn’t understand why we treated people in such an un-Christ-like manner because their skin was a different hue than ours. 

You’ll recall that this is a time when people of color were only allowed to drink water from a black labeled public fountain; use only the black labeled restroom; they had to ride in the back of the bus; their children had to go to a black only school, and they went to different churches. None of this made any sense to my 18-year-old mind – none of it makes any sense to my 78- year-old mind. Yes, there has been progress, but not completely. 

In the booklet that I was given at the beginning of this retreat, I found interesting written recollections of that time.  One reminded me that we are all sinners and that sin is a killer it changes man, his mind, and his eternal life. Another reminded me that charity must be practiced towards all people, and another told me to keep my mouth closed. (Hmmmm?) 

At the end of the booklet, I wrote a multi-page essay about equality of the races. I remember the passion with which I wrote the words that I put on the page. It was the passion of a young adult who could not understand why society found it so hard to love its fellow human. 

Maybe I was being naïve. We learn to act a certain way because we have taught to behave a certain way, but God asks us to take a step higher than that. God asked us to love each other unconditionally just the way he loves us. 

I don’t make any representation that that’s an easy thing to do. Unconditional love, pure unconditional love is something that only God can do. That doesn’t mean that we can’t aim for that goal.  

Always remember God loves you unconditionally. Always remember that God sends us grace to take those higher steps and smiles with love when we take them. 

Terri