• About The Sophia Center

The Sophia Center for Spirituality

~ Spanning the denominations in NY's Southern Tier

The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Tag Archives: Franklin Roosevelt

Transformation

09 Thursday Apr 2020

Posted by thesophiacenterforspirituality in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

acceptance, adversity, COVID19, Franklin Roosevelt, Holy Week, self-discipline, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, transformation

For the past three days, my housemates and I have chosen to watch the PBS series, The Roosevelts, together as sort of a “dinner theater” event. Although it is a departure from our normal Holy Week schedule, we have found the practice worthwhile for the study of both our national history and human behavior in the relatively recent past. Most compelling was last night’s segment which chronicled the rise of Franklin Roosevelt from the beginning of his participation in the political sphere to his election as President of the United States. It was during this period that he was stricken with polio.

FDR went swiftly from being a rich, strong, entitled man to whom all things came without struggle to becoming a helpless invalid who could do virtually nothing for himself. It was fascinating to see the transformation from a proud, independent, self-assured person who refused to allow anyone to see evidence of his disability to a man who became a champion of others like himself who not only survived but thrived. The transformation began when he opened his home in Warm Springs to polio victims of all ages and found possibility in sharing his lot with them. He came to a deeper understanding of people and grew in a new openness, born of his own struggles and the sharing with those dealing with all manner of distress. It was the era of the Great Depression in our country.

Acceptance of self and others is writ large throughout this series, both by those in this dynasty who learned the life lessons and those who did not. Adversity was a teacher for those who stepped up to the challenges they faced for their own good and the benefit of others. (Franklin’s wife, Eleanor, has already begun to shine by episode three and is clearly one of the winners in the willingness to go out of herself for others.)

Perhaps it is a stretch to compare our time to theirs but there are moments when the connection seems clear to me and it is the consciousness of what is possible and acceptance of what is not that will determine the outcome of this crisis of COVID-19 that we are now experiencing. And in what may seem a huge leap, may I quote St. Paul who reminds us that Jesus “did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at but rather emptied himself…”

May we contemplate the power and possibility of transformation during these next three days in a way that will open us to deeper understanding, stronger self-discipline and the great love of God in light.

Donate to The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Donate

Our other websites

  • Main website
  • Facebook page

Visitors

  • 100,575 hits

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 1,046 other subscribers

Recent Posts

  • The “O Antiphon” Meditations
  • Memorial to be held this Sunday
  • Mark your calendars
  • A note to readers
  • “Hope Springs Eternal…”

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

Archives

  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013

Blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • The Sophia Center for Spirituality
    • Join 560 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • The Sophia Center for Spirituality
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...