The photo on the dust jacket of Lois Wilson's new autobiography, Turning The World Upside Down, catches her in front of the Great Wall of China astride a mangy camel, waving a baseball cap with a child-like bravado.
In an interview in Vancouver, Wilson smiled and said she climbed up between the humps after someone suggested even she wouldn't be willing to ride the creature, which was known for being particularly malodorous and unruly.
The moment captures the character of this spunky, globe-trotting, dimininutivediminutive,
64-year-old Canadian author whose friends range
from Archbishop Desmond Tutu to the late
Margaret Laurence. One couldn't imagine Wilson
turning down many dares, particularly those which might further the causes she's
fought for all her life--women's rights, intelligent faith, peace and global
economic justice.
The co-president of the giant, 317-denomination World Council of Churches1, former president of the Canadian Council of Churches, first woman moderator of the United Church of Canada and receiver of honorary degrees and international awards almost too numerous to mention, took the title for her autobiography from the Book of Acts. She wanted a title with a verb and liked the way the New Testament chapter describes early Christians as people who want to turn the world upside down.
Christianity began as a socially "radical" religion, she said during a book tour. "I think we've had a little backsliding since then," she adds, playfully pounding her finger on the notepad to make sure the point comes across. "I'm proud to be part of that community."
Wilson's autobiography offers her first-hand views on social struggles, particularly of women, in countries as diverse as Chile, India and South Africa--where she believes an "elite" control almost all wealth and power while the vast majority live in "misery."
The world's two major economic systems, which she calls the "market economy" and "the planned economy," both have strengths and weaknesses and need to be open to change, she said. "They're not sacred cows."
Her global crusading has taught her that the most intense growth within Christendom is in the developing world, as well as the Soviet Union. Married with three grown children, her book recounts close associations with world figures such as Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Jean Vanier, Pope John Paul II, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and wife Leah.
However, one particularly moving chapter, Rejoice Always, stays closer to home--recounting her relationship with "Peggy," whom most know as Margaret Laurence, author of The Stone Angel and The Diviners. Laurence was Wilson's college friend in Winnipeg and later a soul-mate in social conscience.
The book details the last intense months of their relationship, including when Wilson and Laurence together wrote the noted author's funeral service.
"We wouldn't see each other for years and we'd start in right away, saying, 'What is life really."' We didn't bother with trivialities. I don't know why that was," Wilson said, looking and speaking as comfortably as if she were at her kitchen table.2
"When she phoned me about burying her, we talked for a good three hours. That's when I found the margins of her Bible were full of notes, scribbles and comments. She obviously knew that book inside, outside and sideways."
In their final visit before Laurence's death from cancer, Wilson writes: "Peggy was at once grieving, jubilating and raging on. She loved life passionately. 'Life is for rejoicing--for dancing,' she said. With tears streaming down her face, out of a mixture of physical weakness and intense emotion, she cried out to me, 'And I've danced. I've danced.'"
(review accompanied by photograph of Lois Wilson, captioned:
(text of November 18, 1989 Vancouver Sun book review)
1-IN COURSE OF PREPARING THIS "INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC WORK...ON A DIRECT BASIS" FOR THE WORLD'S CHILDREN, I HAVE MET TWO NOW-PAST PRESIDENTS/SECRETARIES-GENERAL OF THE "WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES."
THERE IS A FOOTNOTE RELEVANT TO WHAT YOU FIND IF YOU TAKE A BRIEF SIDESTEP HERE--WHICH IS ABOUT WHAT LIES AHEAD IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM--IF YOU TAKE A BRIEF
SIDESTEP HERE.
2-THERE ARE TWO TERMS OF REFERENCE AT THIS AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE WITH CONTENTS WHICH RELATE TO THIS ANNOTATED PASSAGE.
I WILL LET THEIR CONTENTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
TO CONSIDER THE EARLIER ONE, TAKE A BRIEF SIDESTEP HERE.
AND TO CONSIDER THE MORE RECENT ONE,
TAKE A BRIEF SIDESTEP HERE....
THERE IS A PARTICULARLY ENLIGHTENING FOOTNOTE ABOUT MY MEETING WITH THE VERY REVEREND SENATOR LOIS WILSON IF YOU TAKE YOUR NEXT FOOTSTEP HERE.