33. Genius, Power and Magic, Sunday Morning, November 15, 2020

Our podcast today gathers together an eclectic group of social activists that have followed Goethe’s imperative: “Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” And they have begun where they were, with what they had to work with, boldly, prophetically, using the talents they were given to offer them up as gift to the world. And God and all the universe showed up to guide them and support them on their way.

We welcome today, the prophet Isaiah, Jesus with his story of the distribution of the talents, German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Iona Community in Scotland, the Fresh Start Initiative at Kingsway Lambton United Church in Toronto , Lucille Bridges and her daughter Ruby who worked to desegregate American schools, Norman Rockwell who offered his talent to the civil rights movement, Vice President elect of the United States Kamala Harris, and John Lennon and Yoko Ono who brought us the visionary word picture song, Imagine. Each took their talent, small or large, and used it to bring peace and healing into this world. We are called to do the same.

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too

Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You, you may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you will join us
And the world will be as one

— John Lennon, Yoko Ono