GROWING TOGETHER

Based upon a much-loved African-American spiritual, the following devotion is taken from a new RENOVARÉ Resource for Spiritual Renewal that will be published by HarperSanFrancisco in 1995. A copy of "Down by the Riverside" will be needed.

"DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE"

Scripture Reading - Isaiah 2:1-4. In this Scripture we see a great vision of peoples from every nation streaming to Zion, the mountain of God. It is a wonderful description of reconciliation and justice between the nations. Instead of differences being settled by bloody battle, the Lord judges between the nations. Swords are beaten into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks— what a glorious, hope-filled vision!

Scripture Meditation - Isaiah 2:4b. Begin your meditation by singing the first verse of this well-known spiritual. Allow the refrain to become a personal affirmation and confession; "I ain't goingt' study war no more." Now, memorize the text:

they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.

Allow prayers to rise from your heart for the fulfillment of this vision. Pray for the nations. Pray for the collapse of hostilities between peoples. Pray for the peace of the cities.

Imagine swords and shields and B1 bombers and Trident missile systems all melted down and turned into plowshares and pruning hooks and medical technology and recreation equipment.

Reflecting in Song. The spiritual is an original African-American contribution to music. Born as it was out of terrible anguish and bondage, it reaches into our heart and soul in unexplainable ways. No other form of music touches those longings that lie buried deep within us all.

One of the most powerful characteristic of the spiritual is the "wandering refrains" which allow for considerable improvisation. Words can be freely changed and added as the singer is taken up into the message of the song.

Personally, I will always remember the use of this particular song in a gathering of young Quakers from across North America. We had been struggling with the hard issues of war and peace, earnestly trying to cut through the Gordian knot of the conflict in Southeast Asia. Then in the midst of our debate and our struggle, someone began singing, "Gonna lay down my sword and shield, down by the riverside . . ." The song beganto move throughout the group, first in a quiet, almost tentative way, then with greater and greater conviction. Time seemed to stand still as dozens upon dozens of verses were improvised. ("Gonna lay down my napalm bomb . . .") Our resolve grew and deepened. In those days we were a few lonely voices crying in the wilderness, but in time the conscience of an entire nation was aroused and a tumultuous cry went forth (accompanied by many unsavory influences) that could not be ignored.