Today the ELCA remembers Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth as renewers of society. Both women were born into slavery, one in Maryland, the other in New York. Harriet Tubman escaped to freedom, and with fierce determination helped many other slaves to escape. Sojourner was born a slave and given the name Isabella. When slavery was abolished in New York in 1827 she changed her name and began a career as an itinerant Christian preacher. Imagine the good things that both women did, and the hardships they endured in their lives. So in our shady suburbs in which we worship the idols of wealth and leisure, and work like dogs to serve these two gods, give thanks for women like Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth who accepted suffering and hard lives on behalf others. They did good things in the world. May their heroic examples inspire us.