Early in the morning before getting out of bed it was time to do some scripture reading and reflection. On this morning, I also anticipated a request to sing/perform for a special event for a new historial marker unveiling happening at Scarritt Bennet Center, where I work as Director of Spirituality and Arts. So, rather than one of my regular start-of-the-day practices, I paused with the scriptures that had been selected for this day which were read at the unveiling. Here are the scriptures, the text from the marker, and then the poetry I wrote this morning, which I began to write in bed, marked up after filling my tank at the gas station, and finalized before walking over for the occasion once I arrived at the office. Indeed, it is beautiful how the divine within speaks when the heart and mind are inspired and aligned. Nothing but God that not even the morning commute could prevent the light from shining brightly today.

NOTE: I anticipate making some edits or refinements to the poetic writing at some point, but after performing it this morning, it may be that this is exactly what it was meant to be for this seaon and another version will come when the occasions so arises.

The Scriptures

Psalm 78:1-4 CEB

Listen, my people, to my teaching;

tilt you ears toward the words of my mouth.

I will open my mouth with a proverb.

I'll declare riddles from days long gone–

ones that we've heard and learned about,

ones that our ancestors told us.

We won't hide them from their descendants,

we'll tell the next generation

all about the praise due the Lord and his strength–

the wondorous works God has done.

Isaiah 43:19 CEB

Look! I'm doing a new thing;

now it spouts up; don't you recognize it?

I'm making a way in the desert,

paths in the wilderness.

The Historical Marker

This Historical Commission of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County marker reads as follows:

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF SCARRITT IN NASHVILLE 1924-2024

In 1892 guided by the vision of Belle Harris Bennett, president of the Woman’s Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, the Scarritt Bible and Training School opened in Kansas City, Mo., to train women in ministry. The school moved to Nashville as Scarritt College for Christian Workers in the fall of 1924 and expanded to offer coeducational Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees. The College closed in 1988 and became Scarritt Bennett Center.

In honor of its centennial in 2024, Scarritt Bennett hosted the Transformative Global Leadership Conference with Africa University, American Baptist College and the Kelly Miller Smith Institute on Black Church Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School. The Center also launched the Belle Harris Bennett Speaks series featuring the Rev. Dr. Bernice King, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She joined the series 67 years after her father spoke at Scarritt’s Wightman Chapel.

A Century of Divine Design

by Rev. Linda Furtado

Sometimes a city grows and feels more like a forest of concrete with rivers of traffic. Getting lost in the vastness of the wilderness
coming easily where sidewalk-boarders connecting
with sacred hope
go overlooked or seem more
like wishful thinking.

History seems to repeat itself
alongside manifestations of modern knowing
shaped by flashbacks of the soul's memory.

Heart aches pulling strings tight,
begging for liberation
as ears lean in and listen
for the still small voice
in the middle of the noise,
saying: "Come to me, all you who are struggling hard and carry heavy loads, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28 CEB

What comes to us

when the skipping beats
are because of leaps
of joy in celebrating new love instead of fear of the unkown?

When the diaspora of African ancestory
grows bold in Kujichagulia vibes
rather than me and mine sensibilitites.

When the words the walls could speak
echo a crowdsourced generational wealth of knowledge
rather than accepting defeat.

When hospitality meets justice,
rolling down upon us
as Christ's blessed assurance makes us
a little more upright with every live-stream.

From King to King,
before and between,
for God we attempt great things
as our Belle's voice rings.

Strong and faithful
this aboretum in crab-orchard stone dreams,
this place and us decendents are always doing a new thing.

Can't you see it?
Do you not recognize that underlying century old melody,
remixed lessons of transformative energy.
Wonderous works graced to us long before any of our mouths knew
what speaking could do.

Into existance
with women's insistance,
let us continue to trust
that we've only just
begun another century
of divine design and anticipation.