Day 57 of the End to End in 2019 was the half way point in distance. It was in the Cumbrian hills and a good place to revisit radical steps. A Roman milestone in a churchyard, a flight of steps in a small market town, footpaths, bridleways and small rural roads: each one tells a story. The first, how routes make an Empire, the second how steps challenge an administration, the rest confirmation that ways around and across and how we travel them are still important, economically, politically and poetically.
We were staying at a large barn outside Sedbergh. We later found out that George Fox had visited the farm of which the barn was a part. George Fox and Margaret Fell were the founders of the Quakers, in the 17th century in the North of England. There are plenty of Quaker landmarks in these parts.
Quakers believe the equality of all people, as radical a belief in the 21st century as it was in the 17th. Their main activities are in human rights, social justice, freedom of conscience and peace. But they are not mouthy people preferring the worship in silence. At the time of WW1, when the conscription act was passed in 1916, they negotiated an exemption for Quaker men. It didn’t quite work out as they had planned. Having claimed it for themselves, others, quite rightly, then asked for it too, both on religious and political grounds. In addition it is estimated that about one third of Quaker men did fight under arms (many more were non-combattants). One was Arnold Wynne who moved from a pre-war pacifist position, to die on the first day of the Battle of Arras in 1917. In all I have found out about him, I’ve not managed to piece together that transition. But he would not be the first to find that the rules made for him no longer applied, for whatever reason. Perhaps he thought being exempt unfair.
The Quakers are just some of those who have taken, and still take, radical steps. I’m sure you could name others in the age of global upheaval and challenge. It’s not unusual for anyone designated radical to attract criticism or contempt or even violence. Those who guard the status quo do so diligently.
From the remembered bible:
‘Who’s head is on the coin?’ Jesus asked.
‘It is Ceasar’s’, was the reply.
‘If it belongs to Ceasar, give it to him, but give God what belongs to God’ Jesus said.
There are no coins showing your head, God of all,
making it easy for us to omit to give you anything at all.
Remembering those who have taken radical steps
for equality and human rights, social justice and peace,
recall us to your way.
May you Spirit help us interpret the times,
firing us up to challenge in equality and injustice,
equipping us to work for peace.
Anger may give us away, we may loose sight of the goal,
the steps may be hard and the way long,
we may be nowhere near half way,
but in your company we will keep the faith:
may your kindom come.
JAL: 02.06.2020