CORE II Classes Remember the Message of Julian of Norwich  

Statue of Julian of Norwich by David Holgate, west front, Norwich Cathedral. Image by Tony Grist, in the public domain

This week for Inside the Core, I want to mention something a little different -- a song sent to me by Kelly Shea, Director of First Year Writing, Core instructor, and member of the Core Advisory Board and the SCCC. Kelly's relative sent her this song, written and performed by Meg Barnhouse, the minister of the First UU Church of Austin. As described to Kelly by her brother, "in her song, "All Will Be Well," she imagines a conversation with Julian of Norwich, a Medieval mystic (1342-1416). Recurring throughout the lyrics are the lines: '"All will be well, all will be well, all manner of things will be well.'" Students in Core II will remember that Julian of Norwich is one of the medieval authors, a mystic who had a series of visions, in which Christ appeared to her offering consolation and reassurance, summed up in that recurring phrase "All shall be well."

Though in these last couple of weeks, Core classes will likely be reading perhaps Gaudium et Spes ("Joy and Hope"), from Vatican II, or an excerpt from Nietzche's On the Geneology of Morals. Both texts deal with meaning, from opposite perspectives—faith in the former and a reimagining of life, without faith, where morals are created by human beings and might be completely other in different circumstances. However, for this "Inside the Core," I am returning to Julian, as her words seem especially applicable to this time of COVID-19. Julian asked God for illness, strange as that may sound, and he answered her prayers. She was not a masochist, but knew that this experience of closeness to death would somehow, mysteriously, bring her closer to God. That is what she wanted, not illness. The pandemic also, while certainly not something to seek, can be – if we allow it – something that can also cause us to get closer to one another, not physically!, but emotionally. In light of it, we can appreciate one another more and value the important things that we sometimes neglect in the busy-ness of life. Ultimately, again, if we allow it, we can let this experience teach us something about God and our connection with him. If facing the prospect of death is terrifying, it can also move us to value those things that transcend death – a relationship with God that bridges the gap between life and death.

"All Will Be Well" by Meg Barnhouse

I said Julian, you are holy, you are holding my hand.
And Julian, you are holy, you are holding my hand.
And she said All will be well, all will be well,
All manner of things will be well.

I said, Julian, do you not know, do you not know about sorrow, and Julian, do you not know, do you not know about pain?
And I said, Julian, do you not know, do you not know about hunger, and Julian, do you not know, do you not know about shame?
But she said All will be well, all will be well,
All manner of things will be well.

I said Julian, do you not know, do you not know about loneliness, and Julian, do you not know, do you not know about disease?
And I said Julian, do you not know, do you not know about cruelty?
I said Julian, it's too much, it brought me to my knees.
But she said All will be well, all will be well,
All manner of things will be well

She said no one does not know, does not know about sorrow, and no one does not know, does not know about pain.
She said no one does not know, does not know about hunger, and no one does not know, does not know about shame.
And she said all will be well, all will be well
All manner of things will be well.

She said no one does not know, does not know about loneliness, and no one does not know, does not know about disease.
She said no one does not know, does not know about cruelty.
She said I know too much, it brought me to my knees.
Where I heard all will be well, all will be well,
All manner of things will be well.

I said Julian, you are holy, you are holding my hand, and Julian, you are holy, you are holding my hand.
And she said all will be well, all will be well, all manner of things will be well.
She said Baby girl, do you not know, do you not know about tenderness?
She said baby girl, do you not know, do you not know about friends?
She said baby girl, do you not know, do you not know about the Spirit?
She said baby girl, do you not know, it's only love that never ends.

And so all will be well, all will be well
All manner of things will be well.
And so all will be well, all will be well,
All manner of things will be well.

Categories: Faith and Service, Nation and World