St. Mary's Graduation

On Saturday I attended the graduation of some of my "spiritual companions" from St. Mary's college. There were graduates who have volunteered with us in our schools and some who keep in touch through spiritual direction, young adult retreats and discernment days here at the Motherhouse. The keynote address spoke of making the journey from being a daughter of migrant farm worker in the fields in California to being a successful lobbiest for labor rights in the tradition of Cesar Chavez. Some found her message to be too political...it was definitely leftward leaning....but she spoke her truth with conviction and resolution. She is an alumna of the college and a member of one of the first co-ed graduating classes. We should all strive to be beyond politics by being magnanimous enough to find inspiration and wisdom in the words of anyone speaking their truth with love and conviction...even if their views come from a part of the the political spectrum different from our own. While I understand why Republicans in the audience might have been offended by her clearly Democratic message, I think there was no cause to take offense. Both her personal story and her position statements are authentic truths that need telling. I am an independent voter who tries to listen with an open heart to messages conveyed by all parties in an election year. Unfortunately, most political speakers ring hollow or are weighed down by self-serving concerns. Some are downright bitter and spiteful. It was good to hear a speech that was free of that kind of political jockeying. It was passionate and heartfelt and grounded in the speaker's own lived experience...an experience which is very different from my own. I hope her words motivated the students present to have the courage to speak out that same way themselves one day even though some might not "have ears to hear it."