William Sloane Coffin, Jr. was born to considerable wealth and social position on June 1, 1924, in New York City. Well, that really is selfish and here I thought some believers like Christians are supposed to be charitable. Its presence in my mind has been so frequent, especially recently after the loss of a dear friend, that I finally decided to share it here. I mentioned the healing flood of letters. For instance, the Christians persecuted the Jews for nearly two thousand years because as they said, they believed the Jews killed Jesus. Ive read and re-read this passage many times: I told them, It was an accident. Want to start taking action on the content you read on AoM? Like A.E. But if anyone dare speak in response to this tragic accident, they could learn much from William Sloane Coffin, the American justice activist who died last year, about what not to say to. Legendary William Sloane Coffin's years at the historic Riverside Church captured in new two-volume collection Louisville, KY-From 1977 through 1987 William Sloane Coffin was the Senior Minister at t . Townsman of a stiller town. They accepted that it was god's will. As the grief that once seemed unbearable begins to turn now to bearable sorrow, the truths in the right biblical passages are beginning, once again, to take hold: Cast thy burden upon the Lord and He shall strengthen thee; Weeping may endure for the night but joy cometh in the morning; Lord, by thy favor thou hast made my mountain to stand strong; For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling; In this world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world; The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.. To be one with the dull, indiscriminate dust. Eyes the shady night has shut When she saw me, she shook her head, then headed for the kitchen, saying sadly over her shoulder, I just dont understand the will of God. Instantly I was up and in hot pursuit, swarming all over her. Protestant preacher William Sloane Coffin after the death of his college-age son in an accident confesses to blowing up at a neighbor. Gracious God, whose own Son's term of service to humanity was so full that its brevity was no distress, we call to mind on this Memorial Sunday those "who will not grow old as we who are left to grow old," those whose lives were too brief for us but long enough, perhaps, for thee. Hope arouses, as nothing else can arouse, a passion for the possible., I love the recklessness of faith. Theres something in the flight So why were they angry? I walked a mile with Sorrow The Rev William Sloane Coffin A radical preacher and antiwar activist, he took on the American establishment Christopher Reed Thu 13 Apr 2006 19.04 EDT The upbringing of William Sloane. And the wise mans gone back. If a week ago last Monday, a lamp went out, it was because, for him at least, the Dawn had come. The title of the sermon is "Alex's Death" and it comes on the heals of Rev. so if God doesnt will these things to happen, why does he let them happen? You can stay up to date with Will & Testament via these feeds. The time you won your town the race Here are additional selected citations in chronological order. Quotes, as voted by Quotefancy readers. And home we brought you shoulder-high. Never do we know enough to say that. William Sloane Coffin Jr. (June 1, 1924 - April 12, 2006) was an American Christian clergyman and long-time peace activist. Anonymous- I think people are grieving because they're sad to see someone go. When you scroll down this page you will find all of Bill's Riverside sermons organized by year. That's why immediately after such a tragedy people must come to your rescue, people who only want to hold your hand, not to quote anybody or even say anything, people who simply bring food and flowers the basics of beauty and life people who sign letters simply, "Your brokenhearted sister." Rev. Lewis wrote, They say the coward dies many times; so does the beloved. To-day, the road all runners come, 5 "I'll say you don't, lady!" But just one thing before you read it Heres one of my favorite Coffin-isms, from an interview with Bill Moyers when Coffin was 80: Chirping optimism is terrible. So people are feeling sorry for themselves instead of happy for the one they believe is now in heaven. I know. BBC 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. I swear to you, I wouldnt be standing here were I not upheld. Q: How about your own death? I'm puzzled by all of this. ABERNETHY: Coffin rails at neglect of the poor and U.S. policies in Iraq. That is what makes the valley of the shadow of death seem so incredibly dark and unending. My own consolation lies in knowing that it was not the will of God that Alex die; that when the waves closed over the sinking car, Gods heart was the first of all our hearts to break. _______________ Reprinted with permission of theWilliam Sloane Coffin Sermon Archive Project. I know how lucky I am! William Sloane Coffin was a man with a wild career: he fought in World War II, worked for the CIA after the war, became a "man of the cloth", was thrown in jail as a civil rights marcher with Dr. Martin Luther King, and was an academic, author, and an activist. Cars skid out of control on icy roads, healthy cells are consumed by cancerous ones. How does a true Christian operate in a pluralistic world? When parents die, as my mother did last month, they take with them a large portion of the past. This is amazing. It is difficult to know how to theologise about a tragedy of this order without descending into cliche, trivialisation or offensiveness. But violent deaths, such as the one Alex died to understand those is a piece of cake. Continue the suffering of living in preference to going to heaven just so you'll have their company around. by Rev. In this best-seller, Coffin gives a powerful record of his remarkable public life, offering his. And of course I know, even when pain is deep, that God is good. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, As the grief that once seemed unbearable begins to turn now to bearable sorrow, the truths in the right biblical passages are beginning, once again, to take hold: Cast thy burden upon the Lord and He shall strengthen thee; Weeping may endure for the night but joy cometh in the morning; Lord, by thy favor thou hast made my mountain to stand strong; For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling; In this world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world; The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.. First you leap, and then you grow wings." --- William Sloane Coffin. For. Bill Coffin was such a man. Why? Interview with Religion & Ethics Newsweekly. MOYERS: Youre not supposed to outlive your children, are you? @art-of-manliness / art-of-manliness.tumblr.com, Editors note: Ten days after his son, Alex, drove off a bridgeand was killed in a car accident, Reverend William Sloane Coffin delivered the following sermon to his congregation at Riverside Church in New York City. But I also, couldnt think of anything else for the moment, but about Alex, and his death. William Sloane Coffin. She chattered all the way; How do you separate patriotism from criticism? When she saw me, she shook her head, then headed for the kitchen, saying sadly over her shoulder, "I just don't understand the will of God." RN: Any comparisons between the domestic opposition to the Iraq War/Occupation with the domestic opposition to the Vietnam War? But like God herself, Scripture is not around for anyones protection, just for everyones unending support. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I'm sure there must be something somewhere in the Bible which says words to that effect. God is dead set against all unnatural deaths. The fact you find that puzzling makes me glad not to be in your family! Wind your head in John!! After the tsunami, some Moslem clerics said it was god's punishment for their sins. This page has been archived and is no longer updated. BTW, anonymous was I ere I saw Suomynona WTB, but I'm sure you guessed that right away. The still-defended challenge-cup. . My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. But its a fact: few of us are naturally profound. The Art of Manliness participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links. From fields where glory does not stay, 10 Instantly I was up and in hot pursuit, swarming all over her. Unfortunately he left the building April 12th, 2006. For some reason, nothing so infuriates me as the incapacity of seemingly intelligent people to get it through their heads that God doesnt go around this world with his fingers on triggers, his fists around knives, his hands on steering wheels. Robert Browning Hamilton. By a departing light There was a funny one on the Twilight Zone where as I recall, the story opens with people from all over a small Western town sitting around in a bar lamenting the loss of their beloved dearly departed. Being with Dying: Cultivating Compassion and Fearlessness in the Presence of Death, Joan Halifax, Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs and Communicatoins of the Dying, How Can I Help? There are small accidents, like knocking over your milk at the dinner table. In a prideful way it would be easier to walk the valley alone, nobly, head high, instead of as we must marching as the latest recruit in the worlds army of the bereaved. And read the poems. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. That is what makes the valley of the shadow of death seem so incredibly dark and unending. Thousands of people have died without the benefit of a poetic father! While the words of the Bible are true, grief renders them unreal. But violent deaths, such as the one Alex died to understand those is a piece of cake. So, I wrote the sermon about it. So if someone says, "Are you saved?" T he Rev. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Individual prayers and sermons can be purchased by clicking the cart icon next to each prayer or sermon title. RN: Why do you think most of the anti-war groups stopped their marches in 2004 and became quiescent compared to 2003? The common attribution to the eighteenth-century statesman Alexander Hamilton was probably based on a mistaken understanding of a relatively modern citation. These sermons were delivered from the pulpit at Riverside Church, N.Y.C. I know how lucky I am! William Sloane Coffin's Eulogy for Alex Ten days after his son, Alex, was killed in a car accident, Reverend William Sloane Coffin delivered this sermon to his congregation at Riverside Church in New York City. If you aren't sure what RSS is you'll find our beginner's guide to RSS useful. As his younger brother put it simply, standing at the head of the casket at the Boston funeral, You blew it, buddy. All too often we speak when we should be listening Cannot see the record cut, And, in spite of all of this, God is wherever love can be found. Not because our diverse readership will agree with all of its theological underpinnings, but because I think it offers wise advice on what to say (and not say) when someone dies tragically, a poignant window on the human experience, and a lesson in the art of effective rhetoric(hence why we were discussing it in a communications class). For some reason, nothing so infuriates me as the incapacity of seemingly intelligent people to get it through their heads that God doesnt go around this world with his fingers on triggers, his fists around knives, his hands on steering wheels. I know all the right biblical passages, including Blessed are those who mourn, and my faith is no house of rest, came from fellow reverends, a few of whom proved they knew their cards; these passages are true, I know. As his younger brother put it simply, standing at the head of the casket at the Boston funeral, You blew it, buddy. Download. Did you perhaps mistake me for someone else?? That clarifies the sight You gave me what God gives all of us minimum protection, maximum support. This is the second year of the complete ten year collection of sermons. , just for everyones unending support course I know, even when pain is deep, that is. 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