Faith is where we find it in unexpected places #2

The common Western Christian perception is that only Jesus saves. The Eastern churches see a more complex world and cosmos: we can be saved through the intercessions and actions of others, including the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints and the holy ones who watch over us and accompany us. It is not that Jesus does not save, or that the holy ones save through their own means. It's that God is so big and all-encompassing and so merciful that salvation is available to all and that God's mercy is within and among us.

The poet and jazz musician Gil Scott-Heron may have had some sense of this. His work is full of hope and faith. Much of it may make Christians, and especially white Christians, uncomfortable even eleven years after he died from complications tied to being HIV-positive. But look deeper and consider hope and faith from the perspective of a Black artist of the 1970s who loved deeply. There were steps away from what was common, ordinary, and accepted. And there were uncertain steps towards something great but unknown. Listen to "Lady Day and John Coltrane" as a hymn from one flawed human being to another about situations that we all know in our hearts. Try recognizing your own flaws and following the way forward suggested in the song-poem as a part of your spiritual growth.

Ever feel kind of down and out
You don't know just what to do?
Living all of your days in darkness
Let the sun shine through
Ever feel that somehow, somewhere
You lost your way?
And if you don't get help quick
You won't make it through the day?
Could you call on Lady Day?
Could you call on John Coltrane?
Now, 'cause they'll, they'll wash your troubles
Your troubles, your troubles, your troubles away!
Plastic people with plastic minds
Are on their way to plastic homes
No beginning, there ain't no ending
Just on and on and on and on and on
It's all because they're so afraid to say that they're alone
Until our hero rides in, rides in on his saxophone
Could you call on Lady Day?
Could you call on John Coltrane?
Now, 'cause they'll, they'll wash your troubles
Your troubles, your troubles, your troubles away!
All right
Ever feel kind of down and out
You don't know just what to do?
Living all of your days in darkness
Let the sun shine through
Ever feel that somehow, somewhere
You lost your way?
And if you don't get help quick
You won't make it through the day?
Could you call on Lady Day?
And could you call on John Coltrane?
Now, 'cause they'll, they'll wash your troubles
Your troubles, your troubles, your troubles
Your troubles, your troubles, your troubles
Your troubles, your troubles, your troubles away
They'll wash your troubles away
They'll wash your troubles away
Your troubles, your troubles, your troubles, your troubles away
Yeah, they'll wash your troubles away
They'll wash your troubles away
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah