Martin Luther King Jr. Day
“The time is always right to do what is right” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
Since running a Sanctuary, days off no longer exist and vacations are few and far between. But, in December, I had the opportunity to spend a weekend in Atlanta with my lady-in-laws. We celebrated my mother-in-laws 70thbirthday and my 40th birthday. For my birthday celebration they treated us to a Civil Rights tour in downtown Atlanta. It was one of the most interesting, educational, well presented, and heartwarming tours I have ever been on. Not only surprised by new information and fun facts of Dr. King, John Lewis, Rosa Parks, and others, but we laughed, and more than once I had tears in my eyes. We walked through the area Martin grew up in, we conversed on the corner of the church where he preached, we stood on the steps of his family home. He was a just boy, who at a very young age lost a best friend. The other boys’ parents said they could no longer hangout simply because of the different colors of their skin. Martin decided right then, as hurt and confused as he was, that this didn’t make sense and someday he was going to change it.
On the wall, where Dr. King and Coretta King lie to rest, are Dr. King’s 6 Principles of nonviolence philosophy. He got his inspiration from God and techniques from Mohandas K. Gandhi. He believed these principles should be embraced as a lifestyle.
Principle One:
Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people.
Principle Two:
Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and understanding
Principle Three:
Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice not people.
Principle Four:
Nonviolence holds that suffering can educate and transform people and societies.
Principle Five:
Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate.
Principle Six:
Nonviolence believes that the universe is on the side of justice.
“Nonviolence is the most powerful force that we have for the counteracting of hatred, bitterness, and violence which have infested our society.” ~ Coretta Scott King
“People who think nonviolence is easy don’t realize that it’s a spiritual discipline that requires a great deal of strength, growth, and purging of the self so that one can overcome almost any obstacle for the good of all without being concerned about one’s own welfare.” ~ Coretta Scott King
Until the last couple of years, I would pride myself on the fact, that I was “color blind.” I was proud of not “seeing” color in hopes and belief that it meant I saw everyone equally. Until recenty, when I learned that by “seeing” this way, I was actually doing more harm than good. And this was in fact a racist quality of mine, not on purpose or intentionally, but unknowingly, just the same. I have learned that most of us have racist tendancies, and find difficulty in being open and accepting to people different than ourselves. Our society has formed us this way. Eric and I now continue to dedicate time and effort in learning more about the ways we might be contributing and how we can do better. We are committed to continuing to learn, listen, and grow.
“Proximity breeds care and distance breeds fear.” ~ Emmanuel Acho.
By making an effort to bring ourselves in closer proximity to those that are different from us with empathy, will grow our compassion, and in turn create a better world for all.
May we all be willing to learn, listen, and try to understand those different from us.
May we try to be in closer proximity.
May we do it with the intention of curiosity and care.
May we allow ourselves to react with empathy and compassion for all beings.
If interested, we invite you to check out a few clips, movies, and books we have learned from and enjoyed recently.
Short Video Clips via Youtube
Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man – Emmanuel Acho
Movies on Netflix:
The Best of Enemies
HBO:
Judas and the Black Messiah
Book:
Me and White Supremacy ~ by Layla F. Saad
~ Namaste