Biography
The Rev. Dr. Claudia Highbaugh is a native of Chicago, where she was raised on the south side and educated at St. Edmunds School and the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. She earned a Doctor of Ministry from the School of Theology at Claremont and is an ordained minister in the Christian Church Disciples of Christ. Claudia is a former Associate University Chaplain at Yale University, and served as Associate Pastor of the Black Church at Yale. At Harvard Divinity School, in addition to her role as chaplain, she also teaches courses in preaching and worship. [Biographical information is correct as of the broadcast date noted above.]

"A Little Child Will Lead Them" 
Hear these words from Scripture:

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, "Lord, now let thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all people,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel." [Luke 2:25-32]


I do not have a child of my own. I love children and they are a constant and daily part of my intentional life and work. Children are my passion. I believe that if we hold them, listen to them and care for them, they are our redemption, our consolation and the hope of all of the nations.

Our children teach us the lessons we need to learn. It is my advice to you to take time to talk to the children in your life, hear what they have to say and make this kind of conversation a part of your routine. Look into the eyes of a child and remember what it means to work very hard at learning and understanding. Remember what it means to ask questions, to look at the world with wonder, to carefully explore new ideas. Remember, as you integrate your new friends into your daily routine what it means to take the time to reflect on the world and relationships. Remember what it feels like to discover things, to start something new, to make a new friend, or to make-up with an old one.

Early in the fall of the school year my godson Jacob had a very bad day. He got in a heap of trouble. His mother sent him to his room and told to stay there until he could improve his behavior. This that follows is the result of his period of isolation:

            Memo:
                To Mom
                From Jacob

I'm sorry mom for having a bad behavior (beavuer). If there's anything (inething) I can do to make it up to you, you get it. I mean (meen) it. I hope tomorrow (tomrow) is a better day. I would really like to make it up to you. I'm sorry mom.

            From, Jacob

                Things to Do Tomorrow

                1.   Go tell an adult (auldult).
                2.   Don't hit - yell.
                3.   Say a prayer (prary).
                4.   Walk away from kids that are hurting my feelings.
                5.   Taking deep breaths (breths).
                6.   Not be sneaky (snekey).
                7.   Be truthful.
                8.   Not lie.
                9.   Right wrongs (rite rongs).
                10. Speak up about hurts I have caused (casied).
                11. Build peace.
                12. Don't hurt people's feelings.
                13. Be thankful for what you get.
                14. Don't whine (wine) for what you don't get.
                15. Not to have to be right.
                16. To confess (counfess) what you did wrong (rong).
                17. Not to be mean to people.
                18. Be nice to people.
                19. Do not lie to people.

From the introspection of a seven-year-old we have these good helps and suggestions on how to be a peacemaker. My favorite of his lessons, is "don't hit-yell!" But in reality, an adult list might be better off with some of the other points!

I commend to you these: sharing the confidence, support and honest affirmation of another adult in times of concern and trouble. I lift up the idea of breathing, taking deep breaths, a moment to reflect and listen to your heart and your head, and sometimes remember, a moment is a day or a week or some time to put perspective on a difficult situation. I would remind all of us to be truthful, to face the truth heart on and to witness faithfully what we know to be a right word or action.

Everyday, we must, as Jacob advises, "be thankful for what you get." It is a good day when we can take time to give thanks for the blessings we have received in the midst of the challenges we are asked to face. In thanksgiving we can find strength. And in all, the best of Jacob's wisdom is to build peace!

Jacob's mom adds: some of the things on the list come directly from a pledge that the children make at school about being a peace builder. This is a good, constructive and helpful reminder for all of us! In all our days, and in all of our relationships, amidst all of our tasks and proposed accomplishments, make it a commitment to be a peace builder: one piece, one person, one situation or relationship at a time.

In a world troubled with the terrible and terrifying confrontations of war due to ethnic, religious and racial conflict the idea of peacemaking wills itself into the big picture. Even though conflict and evil confrontation is inevitable, and human, maybe the ability to redraw the circle of openness in the small picture is just as important as saving the world.

In the text I read, the righteous man Simeon meets the promise of God for the consolation of people of Israel in the gift of a child. He says, "mine eyes have seen thy salvation." If we could just believe in the sweet gifts of life that are given to us everyday. Children are born everyday to remind us that we must start over and over and over again, to learn and relearn, to see and to see for the first time. We are reminded in these small gifts to touch and taste and listen with awe and wonder to the world and to words and to all that is around us. And from Jacob, we learn that we must sit. Take time, think, reflect, confess and look very carefully at what is in our hearts to know the ways of peace.

Like Jacob, I have days of bad behavior and I need to work very hard on building and sustaining good relationships. I am learning to close my door and take time to breathe and think and reflect. And most of all, I have learned and I am constantly reminded that I must pray. Prayer is my most important resource for building peace.

I commend these prayers to you in hopes that all may willingly be a person who works to build peace. Hear these words of blessing.

            From the Prophet Mohammed:

            What actions are most excellent?
            To gladden the heart of a human being.
            To feed the hungry.
            To help the afflicted.
            To lighten the sorrow of the sorrowful.
            To remove the wrongs of the injured.
            That person is most beloved of God who does most good to God's creatures.

            From the Gospel of Matthew:

            Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
            Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
            Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
            Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness: for they shall be filled.
            Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
            Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
            Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.


And this most important prayer for peace from my mentor and faithful colleague, The Reverend William Sloane Coffin:

O God, who has created a world beautiful beyond any singing of it, gratefully we acknowledge that of thy fullness have we received, grace upon grace. Grant now that we may be responsible in the measure that we have received.

Keep us eager to pursue truth beyond the outermost limits of human thought, scornful of the cowardice that dares not face new truth, the laziness content with half-truth, and
the arrogance that thinks it knows all truth.

Strengthen our resolve to see fulfilled , the world around and in our time, all hopes for justice so long deferred, and keep us on the stony, long and lonely road that leads to peace. May we think for peace, struggle for peace, suffer for peace. Fill our hearts with courage that we not give in to bitterness and self pity, but learn rather to count pain and disappointment, humiliation and setback, as but straws on the tide of life.

So may we run and not grow weary, walk and not faint, until that day when by thy grace faith and hope will be outdistanced by sight and possession, and love will be all in all in this wonderful, terrible, beautiful world. Amen.

And may the peace of God be with you.

Interview with Claudia Highbaugh
Interviewed by Lydia Talbot

Lydia Talbot: Claudia, your wonderful message on peacemaking begins with your statement that children are your passion. Is it that you see the future in our most precious legacy?

Claudia Highbaugh: I see the future in children. I had a very, very good childhood here in Chicago and I decided a few years ago, into my full adult life, that one of the things that I need to work for is a constant consciousness raising about making the world better, brighter and more hopeful for children.

Talbot: Your Chicago experience, of course, includes your growing up in St. Edmunds Episcopal School and Fr. Mack. Tell us about how that impacted what evolved into this wonderful dedication to children.

Highbaugh: I was for eight years in St. Edmunds parochial school—which is now gone—where we had the children's mass every Friday morning, which is unforgettable. Fr. Mack, the assistant rector, led it. Fr. Mack spent all day long with the children, listening to us and caring for our troubles. You could almost never get into trouble with him! I think what has remained for me in my heart and in my work, was his ability—my image of his ability—to be the leader of a worship service for children, maintain a strong educational environment and partnership with all the teachers, the principal, all the other people involved, and the parents, and still care for each one of us individually. He is my icon of support and education.

Talbot: And care for each one individually. If only we adults in this troubled world in which we live could see through the eyes of children in harmony with one another. I want to ask you about your mentor, William Sloane Coffin, a giant in the struggle for justice in America. He was your mentor and continues to be someone with whom you've connected. He writes in the context of a new film in which he is featured, A Lover's Quarrel with America, that faithful Jews, faithful Christians, faithful Muslims have a lot in common and together could save the world.

Highbaugh: Bill Coffin was a mentor for me, although I was never in a professional relationship with him. During my very formidable, young adult years in the 60s, he was a person who, as a university chaplain, stood for justice and spoke for peace. I have always lifted up that as a model for my own ministry.

Talbot: We can see it and we can hear it. Thank you so much, Claudia Highbaugh.

Highbaugh: Thank you for having me.