i'm feeling sad today. hurt by a couple of circumstances that grabbed me...by surprise? maybe not. but grabbed me nonetheless. i've been going through a struggle- a struggle for peace. a struggle for justice. i know- a struggle that is not new and will undoubtedly continue til eternity.
in all my strength- in all my determination to overcome- i am still saddened by the words of others. i am still effected by the ignorance and the hate that often comes from those who are simply hurting themselves.
and yet, i am reminded of what i have been aiming to focus on for the past few weeks. two virtues that are insanely difficult, but unbelievably necessary and effective to succeed/to thrive. patience. and trust.
oh God, i call out from the deepest parts of my being and petition you for an extra dose. i am in need of your Divine presence- your confidence in my existence- and your ability to rise above the these earthly circumstances. i plead for your grace- your generosity in my life. and in this cry- i will turn around and believe that my cries have been heard, observed, and received with the love and grace that only you can give.
grant me tonight...patience and trust.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
MLK
I re-read my last post this morning and was reminded of the heart felt cry that must have been Dr. Martin Luther King's. "How long must I wait?" Wow.
Dr. King had a dream that he would not see fulfilled in his lifetime; however, he fought with fervency as if it would come today. Still, in our day, we wait to see his dream realized. We wait. We cry. We fight. We press on so that someday our children will see that dream as a reality.
As a white woman, I will never know the struggle that men and women of color fight as part of their normal day. I will never fully understand what it is like to accept this. However, I recognize that this is truth. I know that to utter that there is no longer a struggle because we drink from the same fountain and go to the same schools is a disgusting lie. I understand that every day, a man is judged falsely based on the color of his skin. I recognize this and know that it is true. I understand that we have made progress- as we should. I understand that we are moving forward, but to even for a second insinuate that this world we live in is post-racial- is a lie even the devil would blush to say.
Because I recognize this and because I believe the struggle to not only be one for those of color to fight, I will continue to live in this way...knowing that even the slightest of injustices cannot be tolerated...as Dr. King said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." I will continue to pledge to the future of my children in a way that fights darkness with light and hatred with love....believing that as we continue to move forward...our children will recognize the dream of a man that lead with moral conviction...with belief in the possibilities of human kind...with faith that love would prevail.
"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant." ~ Dr. Martin Luther King
Happy Birthday, Dr. King. We honor your spirit and we strive to see your conviction complete.
Dr. King had a dream that he would not see fulfilled in his lifetime; however, he fought with fervency as if it would come today. Still, in our day, we wait to see his dream realized. We wait. We cry. We fight. We press on so that someday our children will see that dream as a reality.
As a white woman, I will never know the struggle that men and women of color fight as part of their normal day. I will never fully understand what it is like to accept this. However, I recognize that this is truth. I know that to utter that there is no longer a struggle because we drink from the same fountain and go to the same schools is a disgusting lie. I understand that every day, a man is judged falsely based on the color of his skin. I recognize this and know that it is true. I understand that we have made progress- as we should. I understand that we are moving forward, but to even for a second insinuate that this world we live in is post-racial- is a lie even the devil would blush to say.
Because I recognize this and because I believe the struggle to not only be one for those of color to fight, I will continue to live in this way...knowing that even the slightest of injustices cannot be tolerated...as Dr. King said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." I will continue to pledge to the future of my children in a way that fights darkness with light and hatred with love....believing that as we continue to move forward...our children will recognize the dream of a man that lead with moral conviction...with belief in the possibilities of human kind...with faith that love would prevail.
"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant." ~ Dr. Martin Luther King
Happy Birthday, Dr. King. We honor your spirit and we strive to see your conviction complete.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
How long will I wait?
How long will I cry?
How long will I say "I can do this"
While I still wonder if I'm wrong?
How far will this take me?
How far can I go?
How far is this winding
On this long and tired road?
How much will it cost me?
How much will I pay?
How much is too much?
Can anyone say?
It's never too long when you finish.
It's never too far to arrive.
It's never too much when you see and your vision is finally clear.
So, hold on.
Wait.
Cry.
Walk.
Run.
Stand.
Pay.
Then wait.
Laugh.
Hope.
Pray.
Love.
It might not be easy,
but nothing that's good ever is.
It doesn't matter how long,
How far,
How much.
When you win,
You win.
The race is done.
"For we know in part and we prophecy in part,
but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.
When I was a child, I spoke like a child,
I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.
When I became a woman, I put away childish things.
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror.
Then we shall see face to face.
And now these three remain-
Faith, Hope, Love.
The greatest of these is love."
When you've done all to stand. STAND.
How long will I cry?
How long will I say "I can do this"
While I still wonder if I'm wrong?
How far will this take me?
How far can I go?
How far is this winding
On this long and tired road?
How much will it cost me?
How much will I pay?
How much is too much?
Can anyone say?
It's never too long when you finish.
It's never too far to arrive.
It's never too much when you see and your vision is finally clear.
So, hold on.
Wait.
Cry.
Walk.
Run.
Stand.
Pay.
Then wait.
Laugh.
Hope.
Pray.
Love.
It might not be easy,
but nothing that's good ever is.
It doesn't matter how long,
How far,
How much.
When you win,
You win.
The race is done.
"For we know in part and we prophecy in part,
but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.
When I was a child, I spoke like a child,
I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.
When I became a woman, I put away childish things.
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror.
Then we shall see face to face.
And now these three remain-
Faith, Hope, Love.
The greatest of these is love."
When you've done all to stand. STAND.
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