Commitment – James Baldwin: A Brief Reflection

It’s been a long time since I have written any sort of a reflection on my blog. For years my blog was a part of my sermon preparation process. When I retired from active ministry in 2023 my blogging decreased significantly. However, I was still writing occasionally as Denise and I kept preaching in a church that was without a pastor. This past May I knew in my heart that something had to change. By choice, I have not been preaching at all for the past five plus months. Denise has also greatly reduced her own preaching activity.

After 38 years of full time ministry, I was burned out and needed some time to simply be still and recover both physically and spiritually. We have done some traveling and have also been doing some ancestry research at home and in Canada where my Mom’s ancestors had lived.

This time has been restorative even in the midst of government and national instability. This preamble leads to my sharing from some of the reading that I have been doing lately.

I’ve just begun reading Jamie McGhee’s book on James Baldwin, You Mean It or You Don’t which is the Abbey of the Arts Book Club’s latest book club recommendation (click on the link for more information about the Abbey and its offerings). I have a feeling that Baldwin is going to both feed and challenge me, especially during such tumultuous times in this nation’s history—a massive understatement to say the least!

Baldwin delivered a speech on the campus of UMass Amherst on February 28, 1984. At one point during his remarks, he said, “In any case, it’s not enough to be a liberal…. That is something people have a great deal of difficulty with. But it is not enough to be a liberal, to have the right attitudes, and even to give money to the right causes. You have to know more than that. You have to be prepared to risk more than that.”

A few moments later, a student asks for clarification. “You said that the liberal façade and being a liberal is not enough. Well, what is? What is necessary?”

Baldwin responded, “Commitment. That is what is necessary. You mean it or you don’t.” (Introduction, p. 10)

Dear reader, as we continue to walk this journey of faith and life, my prayer is that we can support and encourage each other in being committed to the greater good for all of God’s people and creation.