Servant of Others - A Nation Divided

This episode, entitled A Nation Divided, speaks to how Clara Barton found herself in the midst of the most divisive conflict in American history, both then and now, and how she found and chose her path to becoming an iconic figure during and well beyond that conflict, as well as how God influenced her direction and actions.

Transcript

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Thank you for returning for the second episode of Guided by Faith, Servant of Others. This episode, entitled A Nation Divided, speaks to how Clara Barton found herself in the midst of the most divisive conflict in American history and how she found and chose her path to becoming an iconic figure during and well beyond that conflict, as well as how her belief and faith in God influenced her direction and actions. I appreciate your willingness to hear this part of her story. Clara Barton continued her commitment to education into the mid-1850s. Throughout this time, although living principally in New Jersey, she remained connected with her family, whether it was with her sisters and parents in Oxford, Massachusetts, or her brother Stephen in North Carolina, Clara maintained a rigorous discipline of letter writing. What is most evident in many of these letters is that Clara had a genuine interest in the health and medical circumstances affecting her family members. Even from a distance, Clara was continuously seeking the remedies that would be responsive to whatever ailment or malady her family members might be experiencing. It is here that we begin to see the evidence of Clara's interest in and ability to provide nursing care to those most in need. In particular, the true source of Clara's compassion for the health of her family and ultimately that of others is made known in the text of a letter written to her sister in response to her father's continued illness in Oxford. In this letter, after inquiring as to the status of his illness and offering potential remedies, she offered the following more than he has learned the password to the mystic lodge of God and entered it, that the providences and mysteries he has loved so much to contemplate are being made plain to him, that the inquiries of his intelligent soul are to be satisfied, and that the God he has always worshipped he may now adore. A compassionate heart for those who suffer of illness is evident throughout Scripture, especially in Matthew 25. I was sick and you looked after me. Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. In Psalm 41, the Lord sustains them on their sick bed and restores them from their bed of illness. Seeking to expand her world beyond teaching, in 1854, Clara moved to Washington, D.C. and accepted a position in the U.S. Patent Office. Not surprisingly, Clara's disciplined and organized manner enabled her to gain the confidence of others and to accept greater responsibility in due course. In connection with this success, the network of Clara's connections within the nation's capital grew rapidly. Although Clara was by no means a political activist, she was outspoken in a balanced manner on the most notable issues facing the country. For example, as to the issue of slavery in America, Clara believed in the interest of maintaining the integrity of the country, it should remain in the States as it existed, but no further growth should be accommodated. A view held by many that would prove to be unsustainable for many reasons. Of particular interest on this topic is how Clara Barton responded to Abraham Lincoln's first inaugural address. Demonstrating her uniquely inclusive perspective, Clara openly supported the key components of this address, which she attended on March 4, 1861, just five weeks before the attack on Fort Suttner. In this address, President Lincoln made two specific commitments related to the growing conflict in America. First, he acknowledged the perpetuity of the existing government and the American Union. Second, he acknowledged that there would be no initiation of the use of force by that government in response to the issue of slavery. As history tells us, beyond the terrible carnage and divisiveness of the Civil War, both commitments were adhered to by President Lincoln. The most impactful words of this address, both for the country and for Clara Barton, were in the closing paragraph. Here Lincoln makes an appeal to the heart of the entire country. I am loath to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic cords of memory stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land will yet swell the chorus of the Union when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature. Clara Barton's specific response to this appeal was manifest in the closing words of her letter to her friend B.W. Childs. If it must be, let it come. And when there is no longer a soldier's arm to raise the stars and stripes above our capital, may God give strength to mine. No one of us can fully understand the gravity of the immediacy of the Civil War in the spring of 1861. However, we all have likely been asked to make a commitment to a cause for which we likely did not have sufficient information to know what would ultimately be asked of us. To what source did you look for the guidance to make the decision to act for the cause, regardless of what your commitment might require? From where did you obtain the energy to maintain this commitment for the duration of the cause? For many of us, it is likely our faith provided the ability to endure the uncertainty and possibly adversity of our commitment. Within a matter of months after Lincoln's address, Clara Barton demonstrated her willingness and ability to honor her commitment and respond to the needs of her country. In addition to her ability to act in the face of adversity and uncertainty, Barton demonstrated her unique compassion in her response to the death of Colonel Elmer Ellsworth, who died in battle at Alexandria in the shadow of the nation's capital. In addition to offering support to the Union soldiers, acknowledging the tragedy of Ellsworth's death and the relevance to the cause, she noted the emotional impact on his family and the presence of the hand of God in this moment. In a letter describing the events of Alexandria, specifically the death of Colonel Ellsworth, Barton noted, if the inspiration of Ellsworth's death were not worth more to our cause than the life of any man could be, I could not tell. But he who knows all things and ruleth all in wisdom hath done all things well. On July 21, 1861, Union forces were overwhelmed by the Confederate Army in the first battle at Bull Run. The women of Washington, including Barton, responded quickly in providing medical support to the wounded and dying soldiers as they arrived in Washington. First and foremost, Barton made timely and urgent pleas to her New England communities for necessary food and support. As expected, these communities, as well as many others, responded rapidly and in earnest. In providing this support, Barton made two critical observations which would be critical to the effectiveness of her work during the Civil War and clearly foreshadow the purpose and function of the Red Cross for years to come. First, Barton noted a need for disciplined organization and distribution of the food, materials, and money received to support the casualties of the war. Certainly, her years in education prepared her extremely well in establishing the organization needed. Even though she had no professional training as a nurse or doctor, it was the second observation that truly defined Barton's unique role and changed the nature of wartime medical support forever. Barton recognized that the condition of many of the soldiers had significantly deteriorated in transit from the battlefield to the hospitals, resulting in a high number of deaths prior to or during the hospital stay. Her initial response was to call for getting the medical support and provisions into the battlefield as soon as possible. At the onset, this meant having soldiers bring medical provisions to the field. However, military leaders had little appetite for allowing the medical support personnel, predominantly women, to come into harm's way amid the dramatic battles already ensuing. Notwithstanding Barton's efforts and the indisputable fact that soldiers were perishing in the battlefield because of the absence of medical provisions and personnel, it wouldn't be until the initial battle at Fredericksburg on July 30, 1862, that Union Army leaders allowed for the provisions to be available in the field. And finally, in August 1862, Clara Barton was allowed to care for the wounded and dying in the battlefield at Cedar Mountain near Culpepper, Virginia. Most notable about the experience at Cedar Mountain is that not only did Barton demonstrate significant bravery in her mission, but she extended the same level of care and compassion to all soldiers, whether Union or Confederate. What is interesting is the mutual inclusivity of care would become a cornerstone of the international treaty that was to be signed in 1864, two years after Barton's experience at Cedar Mountain, and would ultimately give rise to the Red Cross in Europe and eventually in America and around the world. Clara Barton's presence at the most notable battles of the Civil War is undeniable, and the instances of extreme compassion and care are far too many to cover in this text. What is most impressive is that Clara Barton possessed an unmatched ability to direct her utmost attention to a specific patient at a specific moment in a specific manner that provided hope to that individual sufficient to extend and in many instances save that soldier's life. To put her Civil War experience in context, Claire Barton was at or near the front lines at the following battles: Cedar Mountain, Culpeper, Second Bull Run, Chantilly, Antietam, Second Fredericksburg, and Spotsylvania. The estimated aggregate casualties, dead or wounded, of these battles is just under 100,000, with about 60% being Union soldiers and 40% Confederate. As noted previously, Clara Barton willingly gave care and comfort to many of these, regardless of the color of their uniform. In reflecting upon her experience at the Second Battle of Bull Run, which resulted in over 22,000 casualties, Barton noted the following in relation to how the wounded soldiers responded to the little she could offer them in their time of severe distress. I never realized until that day how little a human being could be grateful for. And that day's experience also taught me utter worthlessness of that which could not be made to contribute directly to our necessities. The bit of bread provided to the wounded, which would rest on the surface of a gold eagle coin, was worth more than the coin itself. Throughout the early battles of the Civil War, Clara Barton demonstrated energy and drive well beyond anyone's expectation. By her own admission and evidenced by her words in advance of the Battle of Antietam on July 16th and 17, 1862, Clara drew from God the energy necessary to endure. And for my poor self, that he impart somewhat of wisdom and strength to my heart, nerve to my arm, speed to my feet, and fill my hands for the terrible duties of the coming day. Just as Barton sought wisdom and strength from the Lord, Paul acknowledges this in his message to the Colossians to maintain their endurance of their faith in Jesus Christ. For this reason, since the day we heard about you and have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way. Colossians 1, verses 9 and 10. For many of us, our lives reflect the continuous pursuit of intelligence, knowledge, and the ability to make good judgments. Certainly our academic pursuits, careers, and family commitments demanded these traits. Further, upon achieving a greater level of experience, or as we age, we are often considered to project wisdom. What is interesting is that the spiritual meaning of wisdom, which is to know God's will and to faithfully act upon that understanding through our actions for the benefit of others, has nothing to do with our age. My sense is for many of us, unlike Clara Barton, the achievement of practical wisdom is much or has been much easier than that of wisdom in the spiritual sense. Our closing prayer to episode two comes from Mother Elizabeth Ann Seton. Born in 1774, just prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Elizabeth Ann Seton was the first U.S.-born person to be canonized by the Catholic Church. She died in 1821, the same year in which Clara Barton was born. We close this episode with a prayer attributable to Saint Elizabeth Ann Seaton. Lord, help me to live this day quietly, easily, to lean upon your great strength trustfully, restfully, to wait for the unfolding of your will patiently, serenely, to meet others peacefully, joyfully, to face tomorrow confidently, courageously. Amen.