The Beloved Community
by Catherine Hanna Schrock
image via New York Public Library
Martin Luther King
Had a vision
More than the dream
For equality
It was the conviction
That we are called
To live into a new reality
He called it
The Beloved Community…
The Beloved Community
And King coined the term
Declared the prophecy
But it is God’s destiny for all humanity
To lift the veil of fear-
That great division
So we can see clearly
To take a position
On love
And live into love’s provision
We are all the beloved
Yes you
And her and him and me
Oh
The beloved community
Includes my enemy
It’s my gift and my responsibility
But it’s not as hard as it seems
Love is a helper
Love renews the mind
Fear makes us blind…
Fear sees that annoying neighbor
Trapping me in conversation
Feeling that obligation
To nod and listen
Nod and Listen
Then she calls the landlord on me
Anytime I host a party
Really?
Then to look again…
And see her
With love’s purity
She is subdued
By her insecurity
Overcome with anxiety
And grief
That she may never feel the relief
Of a lover’s tenderness
A sister’s kindness
She is lonely
And she’s our family
One more of the beloved community
If we have eyes to see
Fear sees the homeless
As aggressive
With a stench so oppressive
Creepy
Muttering convulsive
Drug tripp’n out nonsense
Repulsive…
But to look again…
And see him
With love’s glance
To see days of innocence
That’s somebody’s baby
Just living in the consequence
Of his father’s addiction
Fell through the cracks
Of a failed system
He is a victim
And our family
One more in the beloved community
If we have eyes to see
Fear sees the immigrant
As ignorant
Hears an accent
And thinks
That’s different
I doubt we can relate
And continues to isolate…
But to look again…
And see him
With love’s patience
He came all this way
To give his kids a chance
She was a lawyer
And now she’s washing dishes
Put away their personal wishes
And yet somehow they are
Humorous, generous
Invite you to tea
Every opportunity
Because they’re family
A few more in the beloved community
If we have eyes to see
To see…another
Whomever to you is
The other
Person of color
Privileged
Conventional
Original
Extremist
Radical
Political
Religious
Atheist
Poor
Educated
Refugee
And…her and him
And…
You tell me
Take a deep breath
And listen
Look within
You have the vision
Do you believe?
That there is another way
To perceive?
That with time and grace
We can receive
A lens of possibility
To see
The other story
The lion with the lamb
In victory
I am
The mystery
It’s not easy.
But it brings ease.
It takes humility.
And then sets us free.
It’s our gift
It’s our responsibility.
Love over fear.
The beloved community…
Is Here
Catherine Hanna Schrock
Catherine Hanna Schrock is an applied theater practitioner which brings together her work as an educator, performer, and writer. She has a Master's in Educational Theater from New York University and a B.A. in Sociology and International Development. As an artist, she works to create written and performance pieces around themes of reconciliation and human connection.