"How can there be a march and I'm not there?"

That was the question that came from my mother, a feisty but proper Southern lady, when I told her I was headed downtown on October 5 to see the Occupy Wall Street demonstration for myself. Her question was rhetorical, since being in a massive, jostling crowd would have exceeded the limits of her strength now, at age 91.

My mother was a Depression-era baby, and a staunch civil rights activist in her day. She knows something of the fear--and the want--that so many Americans are experiencing today. And she's been asking for some time now: "How long will it be before people are marching in the streets?"

My mother was with me in spirit on the brilliant, sunny afternoon when I and my Auburn colleagues joined more than 30 faith leaders and friends including Judson Memorial Church's Rev. Donna Schaper and Minister Michael Ellick; Middle Collegiate's Rev. Jacqui Lewis and Associate Minister Tricia Sheffield and thousands of others who marched from Foley Square to Wall Street. People were singing, banging drums, and engaging in call and response.

One person would shout: "Tell me what democracy looks like!" And the crowd would roar, "This is what democracy looks like!" It was an apt description: a panoply of marchers of all ages and colors; union members and nurses, students and organizers, people talking about living wages, tax codes, corporate greed and the observation on a poster held by two children who seemed to know: SHELTERS ARE NOT FAMILY FRIENDLY.

The crowd was purposeful but not goal-oriented, which seemed right given the complexity of our current financial situation, to which there are no easy solutions. We are beyond winnowing it all quickly down to bullet points and a neat list of demands. And it was heartening that in the age of Facebook and Twitter, people clearly need to be together in real time.

I've spoken to friends who work on Wall Street. Some are engaged, open and supportive, feeling themselves that things are just not right; others are fearful, curious, disdainful, or defensive, not knowing how to engage Occupy Wall Street. Many across the economic spectrum are wrestling with how to find our way back to valuing the public good over individualism; a just economy over unbridled greed; compassion enacted through public policy.

The Christian tradition offers insight into the proper relationship to wealth: No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Wealth is not to be hoarded, either by individuals or institutions, but used productively for the common good. In a world of enormous poverty, wealth is relative, and we all have to make peace with how we define generosity individually and what makes for justice collectively.

The protests have spread to more than ten cities now, and I think we're all watching, and feeling what will emerge. What's interesting is the reactions, such as Judith Miller's in her recent article. Then there is Auburn's own Valarie Kaur, Director of our social action initiative, Groundswell, who has written a thoughtful piece about the burgeoning movement.

Never shying away from complexity, Auburn was proud to co-sponsor a conference at Hunter College in New York City last weekend, "Sex, Power and Speaking Truth: Anita Hill 20 Years Later." This major event brought together three generations of people to reflect on the impact and meaning of the Clarence Thomas hearings. Here's a provocative tribute to Anita Hill by Auburn's Director of Women's Multifaith Education, Lisa Anderson, who attended the conference with me.

It's almost November, which means our annual Peace is Possible benefit on behalf of Face to Face | Faith to Faith, Auburn's conflict resolution program for teens, is just around the corner! We had a remarkable summer program at Homes Camp, north of the city, and we invite you to join us on Monday, November 7 for an exciting and moving evening.  This year, we'll be honoring an inspiring generation of millennial leaders, whom I know you'll enjoy.

Finally, this month I'm reading Millennial Momentum: How a New Generation Is Remaking America, by Morley Winograd and Michael D. Hais. Millennials are America's newest civic generation, a group that is truly poised to change history. Ethnically diverse, tech-savvy, and socially tolerant, I'm confident that Millennials, as represented by Groundswell, will offer hope to our divided nation.

As you can see from our activities, Auburn is energetically at work, bringing people of different opinions and positions together to bridge divides and heal the world. I'd love to hear from each of you.

The Rev. Dr. Katharine Rhodes Henderson