Girding My Loins:MLK DAY
https://www.si.edu/spotlight/mlk?page=4&iframe=true
MLK Day! The national holiday is upon us and I get to “gird my loins” and take a very deep cleansing breath as the season officially begins. We will heroically try to squeeze in everything black; civil rights not so ancient history; and all our social justice efforts in a birthday celebration this weekend. We then will move full steam ahead to Black History Month and the sheer exhaustion, inspiration and conundrum that it is to get through the shortest month of the year in good spirits.
I am intensely optimistic, good-natured light bearing divine feminine kind of gal trying to spread love and light and admonishment in gentle tones wherever I go. But I do get weary and the violence and intensity of the 24-hour news cycle that alerts me of the nuances of every single horrific detail on the planet threatens my soul.
I challenge and encourage myself selfishly because it is BEST for me, to search for the helpers close at hand. I can show light and love and to review every possible permutation of making lemonade from the sourest lemons. Or that I can really convince myself that I like the tang of bitter; preferring at times vinegar and savory to sweet. Everyone who is born dies, not everyone is happy and that is OK and I too can sit it out and wait it out with the best of them. I have stamina, and persistence and a bullet-proof daily prayer practice.
Our ancestors fared worst and more and of course by now I thought that… ….and so many people young and old deserve and want to hear why we are here and why we should and shall continue and indeed overcome.
We shall not forget, won’t go back and won’t and can’t give up or go away! We remain awake and on silent watch! The arc is solidly bent toward justice.
Be of Good Cheer! I do on this SUN DAY MORNING have a few tips for weathering the storm ahead. Tried and true, there will be a range of emotions on your own steam you may encounter to get through the month formerly known as February! Black history month that starts early on January 15th or on a federal holiday when the banks and post office will be closed even if the check is not in the mail.
Do not despair!
1. Start to think of February as not black history month but the expanded world view of American History, your story that didn’t start and end with slavery and all the people that you didn’t know who did something nice and worthy or overcoming some adversity who were black or friends of people. Don’t try to squeeze too much in, take a small bite instead of a big gulp.
2. Find out something new or intriguing about MLK that you didn’t know, read something longer than a tweet. Watch a documentary about the history of the CIVIL RIGHTS Movement like EYE on the Prize . Talk to someone who was there. They remember! They are still alive! https://worldchannel.org/show/eyes-on-the-prize/
3. Remember always, that you personally are capable of great things and that small, kind, generous acts on your part can and do make a difference. Be encouraged, do your best, help one another. Make the world a better place in your own unique way. Don’t hang around mean folks if you can help it. It’s simply not worth your time or energy. Spend time with folks who see you and want to get you know you better! We’re depending on you! We love you! You matter! Keep the Faith!
NOTES
Second Sunday After the Epiphany
