By the Rt. Rev. Robert Anderson

Did you know that theologian Henri Nouwen and Fred Rogers, TV host of "Mister Roger's Neighborhood," were good friends? Nouwen, a Roman Catholic priest, died in 1996 and Rogers, a Presbyterian minister, died in 2003. Their friendship was full of life and vigor and they expressed similar theological convictions.

When Canon Joanna Satorius and I were teaching a "wellness" class at Bloy House in March, Joanna offered a video clip, "Song for Mr. Rogers." You must see it! (It’s posted on www.youtube.com: to find it, go to the site and enter “Mr. Rogers Congress” in the search box, or click here.)

In 1969, during the Vietnam War, President Nixon proposed cutting government funding to Public Broadcasting. Fred Rogers addressed the Senate Subcommittee on Communication regarding his programming. Senator John Pastore,

usually described as gruff and impatient, responded with, "You just earned 20 million!" The subsequent apportion to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting was increased from $9 million to $22 million.

“Mr. Roger's Song” is a song from a gentle spirit that speaks passionately to children about anger, violence and war.

SONG OF MR. ROGERS

(transcribed from the video clip)

What do you do with the mad that you feel?

When you feel so mad you could bite?

When the whole wide world feels oh, so wrong,

And nothing you do seems very right?

What do you do? Do you punch a bag?

Do you pound some clay, or some dough?

Do you round up friends for a game of tag?

or see how fast you go?

It's great to be able to STOP.

when you've planned the thing that's wrong

and be able to do something else instead

and think this song:

I can STOP when I want to,

Can STOP, STOP, STOP. Anytime!

And what a good feeling to feel like this

and know that the feeling is really mine!

Know that there's something deep inside

that helps us become what we can

For a girl can be some day a woman

And a boy can be some day a man.

Henri Nouwen, in Life of the Beloved, writes to adults about "their bite" and spiritual warring:

"The great spiritual call of the Beloved children of God is to pull their brokenness away from the shadow of the curse (you see, I always thought I was no good ... now I know it for sure) and put it under the light of blessing.

The powers of the darkness around us are strong, and our world finds it easier to manipulate self-rejecting people than self-accepting people. But when we keep listening attentively to the voice calling us the Beloved, it becomes possible to live our brokenness, not as a confirmation of our fear that we are worthless, but as an opportunity to purify and deepen the blessing that rests upon us." (p.79, Life of the Beloved)

In one of Nouven's most famous paragraphs we hear "Nouwen's Song" as it describes the vibrating Spirit voice of Baptism;

“You are my Beloved:

"I have called you by name, from the very beginning. You are mine and I am yours. You are my Beloved, on you my favor

rests. I have molded you in the depths of the earth and knitted you together in your mother's womb.

"I have carved you in the palms of my hands and hidden you in the shadow of my embrace. I look at you with infinite tenderness and care for you with a care more intimate than that of a mother for her child. I have counted every hair on your head and guided you at every step. Wherever you go, I go with you, and wherever you rest, I keep watch. I will give you food that will satisfy all your hunger and drink that will quench all your thirst. I will not hide my face from you. You know me as your own and I know you as my own. You belong to me. I am your father, your mother, your brother, your sister, your lover and your spouse, ... yes, even your child ... wherever you are I will be. Nothing will ever separate us. We are one." (p. 30-31)

Fred Rogers sings a slightly different song about children and their uniqueness. I dare say that some mothers and fathers still sing this song to their children, or vice-versa, when somehow the simple phrase, "I love you" doesn't convey the full depth of intimacy:

I love you so much

I love you so much

I can't even tell you how much I love you.

You're special to me

So special to me

I'm so very glad

God put you in my life.

Why Fred and Henri? Their voices remind and encourage us to take strong leadership in our congregations. The whole church needs to rise up, embrace our Belovedness given in Baptism

and unleash the full power of the Baptismal Covenant by seeking peace and standing against the many forces of war and division that seek to diminish the hope we know in Christ Jesus.

Reprinted from ‘Angelus’, the clergy newsletter of the Diocese of Los Angeles, May 2008.