Sara M. Owen

Buy a Mule

During the school year 1942- 43, when I was a senior at Mercer University, our B.S. U. (Baptist Student Union) joined other students across Georgia in collecting money to "buy a mule for Clarence Jordan's farm". We felt a real sense of participation. (It's always been a secret delight to me that it was a mule instead of a tractor!) Ever since that time I have been a believer in and supporter of Koinonia. This support has been meager and sometimes from far off but always heartfelt. I always knew that whatever Clarence Jordan said, wrote or did was the measure of truth.

In 1946 Clarence led a week of Study and Renewal at the Woman's College in Greensboro North Carolina where I was BSU Secretary. The students, as always, were mesmerized -he was so clear and honest. I shall always remember a story he told out of his experience with peaceful non-violence. There was a large group of young black men who were justifiably angry because some white man had raped one of their sisters. They were on their way to "kill some white man". Clarence asked if they knew who was guilty. They said "No, we are just going to kill somebody" Clarence said, "I understand how you feel and if any white man will do, here is one." Whereupon he knelt before them with his head bent to receive their blow. Of course their anger came under control. Some of the students asked "But what if they had hurt you?" Clarence: "But they didn't". Again, he was so clear.

Clarence Jordan had a tough mind, a tender heart and a rapier wit. What more could anyone ask?

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