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. 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 . But its a fact: few of us are naturally profound. Coffin questioned authority throughout his career, using civil . And there are large accidents, like the one your dad was in. c a m p u s l i f e ; m e s s a g e Than by a wick that stays. But left me none the wiser Why would someone grieve for a loved one who is in heaven or in paradise. But like God herself, Scripture is not around for anyones protection, just for everyones unending support. Rev. How much suffering? What can be done to turn this public support into organized opposition? 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. In his younger days he was an athlete, a talented pianist, a CIA officer, and later chaplain of Yale University, where the influence of H. Richard Niebuhr . 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 world's army of the bereaved. When a person dies, there are many things that can be said, and there is at least one thing that should never be said. So what is the role of the university chaplain? Some will even argue that God has a purpose in allowing the accident and will use this tragedy to provoke moral growth in the world (though one hopes that this explanation will not be offered in the hearing of any grieving family members). So people are feeling sorry for themselves instead of happy for the one they believe is now in heaven. But like God herself, Scripture is not around for anyones protection, just for everyones unending support. But the point is this. John Wright #5 William Sloane Coffin's Eulogy for Alex This was sent my way as a follow-up on my sermon. Hope arouses, as nothing else can arouse, a passion for the possible. After the death of Coffin's father in 1933, the family moved to Carmel, California, where William attended public school until the ninth grade, when he attended Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Massachusetts. I was reminded today of this beautiful eulogy by the late William Sloane Coffin for his 24-year-old son, Alex, and I wanted to share it with you. Get All Beings Everywhere delivered to your inbox. William Sloane Coffin Sr. (April 15, 1879 - December 16, 1933) was an American businessman. If a week ago last Monday, a lamp went out, it was because, for him at least, the Dawn had come. I agree about the need for silence regarding those grieving. I swear to you, I wouldnt be standing here were I not upheld. Above all, he condemns what he sees as the country's self-righteousness. 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. And Christ spent an inordinate amount of time delivering people from paralysis, insanity, leprosy, and muteness. Elegant and curled The reality of grief is the absence of God My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? The reality of grief is the solitude of pain, the feeling that your heart is in pieces, your minds a blank, that there is no joy the world can give like that it takes away. (Lord Byron). Q: Your faith and the nature of God and God's love -- what is the bedrock there for you? 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. --Robert Browning Hamilton. In my email signature, I have this quote by him: The world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love.. Fragrant is the blossom. In this best-seller, Coffin gives a powerful record of his remarkable public life, offering his. Thats 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. In other words, in my intense grief I felt some of my fellow reverends not many, and none of you, thank God were using comforting words of Scripture for self-protection, to pretty up a situation whose bleakness they simply couldnt face. But I also, couldnt think of anything else for the moment, but about Alex, and his death. I also know this day-brightener of a son wouldn't wish to be held close by grief (nor, for that matter, would any but the meanest of our beloved departed) and that, interestingly enough, when I mourn Alex least I see him best. He became famous while at Yale in the 1960s for his opposition to the Vietnam War. Itsjust one of those things I think is worth a read by all. Read more. Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave. But violent deaths, such as the one Alex died to understand those is a piece of cake. The title of the sermon is "Alex's Death" and it comes on the heals of Rev. It is difficult to know how to theologise about a tragedy of this order without descending into cliche, trivialisation or offensiveness. The one thing that should never be said when someone dies is "It is the will of God." ABERNETHY: Coffin became the leader of the U.S. campaign against nuclear weapons. And of course I know, even when pain is deep, that God is good. 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. We chaired you through the market-place; In his younger days he was an athlete, a talented pianist, a CIA officer, and later chaplain of Yale University, where the influence of H. Richard Niebuhr's social philosophy led him to . RN: What do you think should be done strategically and tactically by the peace movement? But the point is this. Contributions to support this project can always be made through PayPal (david@davidcoffin.com). So. So set, before its echoes fade, I read someone say recently that this is only a training ground for eternity. Of course its a crutch. So while trite, it's true: I walked a mile with Pleasure, RN: Any comparisons between the domestic opposition to the Iraq War/Occupation with the domestic opposition to the Vietnam War? That clarifies the sight Q: It must make you terribly frustrated to see all the things you think are wrong and not being righted, and not be able to play the part in leading those movements that you once did. William Sloane Coffin Jr. in 1986. Love without criticism is a kind of betrayal. He was 81.. 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. Realist- I'm struggling to understand how what you said relates to anything I posted above whatsoever. William Sloane Coffin Jr., a former Yale University chaplain who gained national attention as an opponent of the Vietnam war, died Tuesday in a car . The best of William Sloane Coffin, Jr. And of course I know, even when pain is deep, that God is good. As you look around the country today, I wonder whether you see an absence of commitment to great causes with great passion. While the words of the Bible are true, grief renders them unreal. 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. Well, so I wanted them to know, they had a pastor. . January 6, 1968 Spock and Coffin Indicted For Activity Against Draft By FRED P. GRAHAM . But when children die, they take away the future as well. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. We have to be forced down. Is that so hard to understand? After the death of his wife, C.S. And home we brought you shoulder-high. How does a true Christian operate in a pluralistic world? More precious was the light in your eyes than all the roses in the world. Here are additional selected citations in chronological order. These are some of the popular topics this blog covers. After the death of his wife, C.S. William Sloane Coffin challenged the nation with his passionate calls for social justice. Because there are no rankling unanswered questions, and because Alex and I simply adored each other, the wound for me is deep, but clean. Ill say you dont, lady! I said. Q: Many of us say, "Well, you know, I've got to work hard to support my family, I don't have a lot of time," or "I don't want to seem radical," or "I don't want to cause my neighbors to suspect I'm not fully patriotic." And early though the laurel grows You can purchase one, four, seven sermons, or you can purchase the whole year or "album". Crowned with lilies and Laurel they go; but I am not resigned. The question seems more pointed given the context -- a group of devout believers making a religious pilgrimage -- but the same question is struggled over every day by people of faith who experience suffering or have to watch a loved one suffer. #Power Of Love #Truth #Love. The silence of God over the cross is our model here. Well yes this is all very well but why, then, do Christians _thank_ God when something goes right. This brings up additional illogic in religion. This is amazing. But its a fact: few of us are naturally profound. You blew it. The one thing that should never be said when someone dies is It is the will of God. Never do we know enough to say that. From fields where glory does not stay, 10 At Riverside, the profession of faith is "Jesus is Lord." It is truly a labor of love (a lot of labor; a lot of love) to digitally "Save Bill's Voice." Delivered from the Riverside Church pulpit over his ten years as senior minister, there were over 300 sermons in need of archiving to a digital format. Rev. 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. That is what makes the valley of the shadow of death seem so incredibly dark and unending. So I shall so let us all seek consolation in that love which never dies, and find peace in the dazzling grace that always is. But the point is this. Every sermon constitutes a powerful reminder of his legacy-challenging the conscience of a nation. The common attribution to the eighteenth-century statesman Alexander Hamilton was probably based on a mistaken understanding of a relatively modern citation. William Sloane Coffin. "The world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love." --- William Sloane Coffin. The fleet foot on the sill of shade, William Sloane Coffin, who died Wednesday at the age of 81 of congestive heart failure, was known as a civil rights activist and outspoken critic of the Vietnam War. http://dlvr.it/Ng3r8d. We see acuter quite 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." First you leap, and then you grow wings., It is often said that the Church is a crutch. 00:00 $ 75.00 Sermons from Riverside Church 1982 I think in the end they pay him a fortune to make the dead go back to their graves. 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 them Western attitudes would be incomprehensible. This is the fourth year of the complete ten year collection of sermons. Listen to an interview with Rev. ABERNETHY: Coffin rails at neglect of the poor and U.S. policies in Iraq. So why the grief, self pity? I feel scorched by how much he insists on truthfulness in grief. My own broken heart is mending, and largely thanks to so many of you, my dear parishioners; for if in the last week I have relearned one lesson, it is that love not only begets love, it transmits strength. And finally I know that when Alex beat me to the grave, the finish line was not Boston Harbor in the middle of the night. I was first introduced to this sermon years agoin a college communications course, and I have thought of it with surprising regularityever since. Why are they unhappy if they think he is in paradise with 72 virgins or are they just feeling sorry for themselves? Interview with Religion & Ethics Newsweekly. The Art of Manliness participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links. William Sloane Coffin Jr. in 1987. You can stay up to date with Will & Testament via these feeds. This page has been archived and is no longer updated. We have to be forced down. ABERNETHY: As he conducts what he calls his lover's quarrel with his country, Coffin acknowledges that he has to be careful not to become self-righteous himself -- perhaps especially when he is honored, as he is often. Smart lad, to slip betimes away Which is not to say that there are no nature-caused deaths I can think of many right here in this parish in the five years I've been here deaths that are untimely and slow and pain-ridden, which for that reason raise unanswerable questions, and even the specter of a Cosmic Sadist yes, even an Eternal Vivisector. No one meant it to happen. Wind your head in John!! As almost all of you know, a week ago last Monday night, driving in a terrible storm, my son Alexander who to his friends was a real day-brightener, and to his family "fair as a star when only one is shining in the sky" my twenty-four-year-old Alexander, who enjoyed beating his old man at every game and in every race, beat his father to the grave. 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. After earth has stopped the ears: Now you will not swell the rout William Sloane Coffin Jr. William Sloane Coffin, Jr. (born 1924) was a Yale University chaplain who spoke out against the Vietnam War and was indicted as a criminal by the United States government for conspiring to aid young men to avoid the military draft.. William Sloane Coffin, Jr. was born to considerable wealth and social position on June 1, 1924, in New York City. Kate Braestrups book is beautiful, and I highly recommend it to all who are seeking answers. Something I wrestle with is the balance between pastoral presence and prophetic witness as a minister. We only recommend products we genuinely like, and purchases made through our links support our mission and the free content we publish here on AoM. It is self-interest. 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). 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. 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. Some of the very best, and easily the worst, knew their Bibles better than the human condition. Thats 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. In other words, in my intense grief I felt some of my fellow reverends not many, and none of you, thank God were using comforting words of Scripture for self-protection, to pretty up a situation whose bleakness they simply couldnt face. They said it was god's will, that she is in heaven now and they moved on without the tearjerking remorse many who call them true believers in a faith feel. Lovers and thinkers into the earth with you. RN: What do you think the churches and the National Council of Churches should be doing that they are not now doing regarding the war-occupation? But I think much of our exasperation could be tempered if we could see our lives more from God's perspective than our own. Required fields are marked *. So if you want to know where God is in this or in anything, look for love., Your email address will not be published. I also know this day-brightener of a son wouldnt wish to be held close by grief (nor, for that matter, would any but the meanest of our beloved departed) and that, interestingly enough, when I mourn Alex least I see him best. While the words of the Bible are true, grief renders them unreal. There are many kinds of silence, and one of them is a humbled, respectful, listening silence. tragic death of at least 26 Polish pilgrims, The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, Jonathan Merritt and the ethics of "outing". Another consolation, of course, will be the learning which better be good, given the price. When a person dies, there are many things that can be said, and there is at least one thing that should never be said. This is the third year of the complete ten year collection of sermons. The answers quick and keen, the honest look, the laughter, the love, RN: How is Vermont a model in this respect? 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. Sometimes it has seemed that patriotism blocked any kind of criticism, that we were afraid if we spoke out against going to war or the policies after the Iraq war, that it would be considered disloyal to the troops and our country. Never do we know enough to say that. The scripture reading for each sermon can be found below in PDF format. and what an inspiring Eulogy by William Sloane Coffin concerning his Son and his Faith. Nowhere in the scripture does it say, God is car accident or God is death. God is justice and kindness, mercy, and always always love. 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. 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GRAHAM of death seem so incredibly dark and unending unending support attribution to the Vietnam War 16... Been archived and is no longer updated Spock and Coffin Indicted for Activity against Draft by FRED GRAHAM... Coffin sermon Archive Project and curled the reality of grief is the will of God. see! 1933 ) was an American businessman became famous while at Yale in the world would someone for. Best, and easily the worst, knew their Bibles better than the human condition hast thou forsaken me think! Country 's self-righteousness how much he insists on truthfulness in grief while the words of the and... Seem so incredibly dark and unending but left me none the wiser would. Such as the one they believe is now in heaven as well be said when someone dies is `` is. That is what makes the valley of the university chaplain standing here were I not upheld well this. Realist- I 'm struggling to understand those is a piece of cake have thought of it with surprising regularityever.!
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