Friends,
A spirited and united group of walkers and supporters – with special thanks to Bill Joyce, Margo Shafer and the Aldridges for dedicated and comforting SAG wagon duties - successfully and with full awareness of the irony of it all, accompanied Susan Crane back into the arms of the Dublin (CA) Federal Correctional institution for 60 more days of incarceration for her part in the 2009 Disarm Now Plowshares action.
On the last day, the group walked 3.5 miles through Pleasanton and were joined at the BART station by Catholic Workers from Alderson, WV who happen to be in the area. Leslie of the Oakland CW community joined the group on the last two days of the walk. The Las Vegas house was represented by Jim Haber of Nevada Desert Experience.
Before Susan walked into the prison the group gathered in a circle for a time of reflection, prayer and sharing of nonviolent spirit. Mary Manning read a blessing from St. Leo Church in Tacoma, Washington:
[begin prayer]
Blessed are you God of mercy; through your Son, you have given us a marvelous example of your faithful kindness and the great commandment to love others, yes, even our enemies.
You have told us what it is to be blessed: namely, to be meek & humble of heart; to show mercy to all; to hunger & thirst for justice; to be peacemakers in a world that is bound by war & violence.
Send down your blessings on Susan Crane, as she continues to witness to our desire for peace, a peace only your Son can give.
Fill her heart with your Holy Spirit and give her a profound patience. As scripture says, “Let the watchmen wait for the dawn; as for us, we will wait on our God.”
Keep her safe and guard her health in body, mind, and spirit that, even in prison, her service of others may bear lasting fruit for eternal life.
Even as your Son, Jesus, labored for us in his Passion, so may the labor of your servant, bear the fruit of peace, in her own heart and in the heart of others.
We pray this blessing in the name of our only true Peace, Jesus Christ our Lord.
AMEN
[end prayer]
With the spirit of Agape Love and the full knowledge of supportive community in her heart, Susan steadfastly walked into the Federal Correctional Institution, Dublin, fully prepared to continue in the spirit of resistance to which we are called by the God of Peace.
As soon as we have Susan’s accurate mailing address we will post it at the Contact page at Disarm Now Plowshares.
Click here to see a complete slideshow (courtesy of Jim Haber) of the Walk from start to finish.
May we continue on the journey as peacemakers (of humble hearts) in a world bound by war and violence, and may the fruit of our labors one day be the breaking of those cruel chains.
In Peace,
Leonard (Eiger) and Jim (Haber)
Susan in the lead (photo by Jim Haber)
Part of the circle during the prayer ceremony (photo by Jim Haber)
Susan in custody (by Jim Haber)
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