Keeping Our Center ~ Day 84

Shirley Chisholm was the first black woman elected to the United States Congress in 1968. In 1972 she sought the presidential nomination from the Democratic Party. When she was asked why she, a Black woman, was running for president: “You don’t have a chance. Why are you doing that?” She responded, “Because I am in love with the America that does not yet exist.”

Why did Jesus try so hard to reform Judaism? Why Did Mother Teresa try so hard to care for the poor and dying in Calcutta? Why did Millard Fuller leave a promising career to start Habitat for Humanity? Why does anyone volunteer for a non-profit organization? Why does anyone raise money for a cause? Or go on a mission trip? Why do we write our senators and representatives? Why do we march for social justice? Why? Even when it seems like we don’t have a chance, why?

Because we are in love with a vision that doesn’t yet exist. That is hope.

The true leaders today, in my humble opinion, are acknowledging the brokenness of our justice system, and the insidious shadow of racism that still permeates our world. And at the same time, those leaders are calling us to hope. This, as awful as it is, they say, may be the catalyst we need to begin to make real lasting change. They are calling us to a vision that doesn’t yet exist and they are telling us that we are all part of making that vision happen.

Through our actions – big and small – we each contribute to creating the world we live in. Whether you teach children, or heal people, or defend our country, or you bring food to a sick friend, or hold open the door for a stranger, or serve food to the homeless, or donate to the food pantry, or make a blanket for refugee children, or pray for our leaders… when you take action for that vision you are in love with, you bring hope.

Part of being a hope-bearer in this moment in time means we need to examine our own hearts and minds, our own judgements and prejudices (we have them whether we want to believe it or not), and exercise them from our souls. We need to confront racism and misinformation when we find it. We need to get off the sidelines and up again and again, standing on the side of love.

Andra Day wrote the song “Rise Up” when a friend of hers was diagnosed with cancer. It began as a prayer, what she felt her friend needed to hear to get back on her feet, and then it turned into this song. Because of power of the song and its broad message, Black Lives Matter adopted it as its theme song. The lyrics spoke to me this week, and I’d like to share some of them with you.

You're broken down and tired
Of living life on a merry go round
And you can't find the fighter
But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out
And move mountains

And I'll rise up
I'll rise like the day
I'll rise up
I'll rise unafraid
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again
For you

All we need, all we need is hope
And for that we have each other
We will rise

And we'll rise up
Rise like the waves
We'll rise up
In spite of the ache
We'll rise up
And we'll do it a thousand times again

Love & Light!

Kaye