Inside each of us, there is a drumming desire to be better than what we are. This is the will of God, an internal measure of self, by the Divine. Religious and Spiritual practices have some form of devotion, such as a prayer, a mantra, a song, or breathing exercises that allow moments where our Spirit communes with God. Through these practices, we become more aware of the mind of God within. This is the starting point of all true thought and endless possibilities.
From each moment of devotion, we become aware that God is the essence of our being. As a result, our spiritual life and world, our mental life and world, and our physical life and world become one in perfect harmony.  We began to recognize that God is the source of all divine good in our lives. We become the expressions of God and share divine thoughts with each other in each “hello,” each “good morning,” and each smile. This is what it means to be “a child of God,” or to be “one with the Universe.”
When we become aware of the Divine within us, we become aware of our Divine expression. We have something beautiful to offer the world. We start to offer the world hope instead of doubt. We speak of possibilities instead of limitations. We share love in stead of hate. And that is a beautiful thing.

Contemplation of the Day: I express the Divine with others around me.
Centering Though: I AM 

Our American experiment in self-government is not done. We have not lived up to the words in great documents that state:
“We the people. . . . in order to form a more perfect union.” and “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people are created equal.”
To understand what these documents truly mean, God’s wisdom must be applied. The will of the people must come from a different place. Instead of a place of fear hate and division, it must come from a place of unity, love, and grace. This was evident from the election of a tyrant who incited a siege Wednesday inside the Congress. Donald Trump governed with racism, fear, hate that continues to divide our nation. Party lines, and loyalties to these divisions have created in some a false sense of belonging and a false sense of duty to “Save America”
We are confused. Patriotism is more than just talking about how beautiful America is and carrying the flag in your truck. It’s being willing to point out American’s shortcomings. Loving this country also requires us to speak out for what is right. It’s more than just wanting to “Make America Great Again.” It’s wanting to make America better.

“Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor.”

The violent siege at the capital was attempted voter suppression of the disinherited. Yes, racism still exists in American, hate, and intimidation still exists in America. To be patriotic means we are willing to speak up against this injustice and hold people accountable.

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

President Trump and his far-right backers must be held accountable. He must be removed from office, whether through the 25th Amendment or impeachment.

“In order to form a more perfect union,” the constitution must be the guideline for civility and not a stepping stone in political careers. So, this great “American Experiment” is not done. The next phase in self-government requires that more people must come from a space of spirit of unity and not division.

“Our first mistake was that we thought of freedom as a place, rather than as a continuation of a struggle.

Tyranny never sleeps.

Our second mistake was that we thought of freedom as a goal, rather than a launching pad from which to reach our goals.

Without purposes, freedom hardly matters.

Our third mistake was that we thought that freedom made us free. That however,is license-not freedom at all.

Freedom is being shackled to identity, purpose and direction and being in constant pursuit.”                                                                            

                                                                                                       -Asa G. Hillard III

            The Book of Psalms are the songs of God’s people expressing our faith in God as our provider, and as a governing force that is trust worthy and constant. The Psalms are beautiful expressions of the human relationship with God, exposing our joy, our anger, our fear and our frustration from life’s experiences. A good example of this can be found in 23th Psalms “The Lord is my Shepard I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pasture, he leads me beside the still waters.” This Psalms expresses the authors faith that God is the source of all things. It goes on to express a sense of gratitude and a renewed commitment to God. On the other hand, when we experience hardships and struggles we lament and express our fears and frustrations. A good example of this can be found the 22nd Psalms, the one before.  “Oh God why has though forsaken me? Why do you remain so distant? Why have you ignored my cries for help”?

            The 22nd Psalms expresses a time of darkness. God is believed nowhere to be found. But by the 23 Psalms God has returned.  At times we show our gratitude and at times we lament our frustrations. Even Jesus sites the 22nd Palms on the cross “My God, My God why has though forsaken me?” So, what this tells us is that lamenting is also part of the human experience. We can and should express our gratitude and we talk about that often, but we cannot overlook the importance of expressing our pain, anger and frustrations to God. Allowing ourselves the experience of the emotions. This is what you find in the Psalms, a shifting of emotions.

            These shifts are the changing seasons human spirit.  Theologian and Old Testament scholar, Walter Brueggemann, refers to these seasons as Orientation, Disorientation, and New Orientation. The Orientation is a faithful commitment to the governance of a God Supreme that is reliable and trustworthy. This is what creates happiness. Everything make sense in our lives. In the Disorientation, there is a perceived absence of God.  Nothing is in divine order. We are not demonstrating God’s expressions of love, mercy and grace. Things no longer make sense. So we lament. “My God, My God, Why has though forsaken me”, How Long, When will this be over.  It seem like every time we take One Step forward two steps back.” In the New Orientation, we realize that God has lifted us out of the pit of disorder. We are in a new place full of gratitude aware of our lives and our God.

The Spirituals are the Psalms of the African American.  There we can find expressions of gratitude and sorrow. The Spirituals express suffering of the enslaved and their commitment to God. They were a way for our ancestors to reclaim some of the dignity loss to the senseless abuse and violence they experience. Spirituals were power for the powerless. It was their way of gaining some sense of orientation in a system designed to keep them disoriented. The Negro Spiritual “There is a balm in Gilead” is a good example:

“There is a balm in Gilead To make the wounded whole;

There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.

Sometimes I feel discouraged, And think my work’s in vain,

But then the Holy Spirit Revives my soul again. . . .”

This song is referring to a healing of the spirit. Something that the enslaved did have control over when being oppressed. The singer is looking to a source greater than itself. The song reinforces the notion that God heals. This gave power two the powerless. Another African American Psalm is “Hold On”:

“Keep your hand on the plow
Hold on! Hold on!

Nora, Nora let me come in
Doors all fasten and the windows pinned
Keep your hand on the plow

Hold on! Hold on!

Nora said, You lost your track
Can’t plow straight and keep looking’ back

If you wanna get to Heaven, let me tell you how
Just keep your hand on the Gospel plow

If that plow stays in your hand
It’ll land you straight into the promised land. . . .”

            This Spiritual empowered Holy Spirit of the enslaved to keep going and not quit.  It gave them the faith to hold on even in times when their spirit was lost. But it also was an expression or hope that they would someday find something better then where they were: A Heaven.

            So where are we in this season? We are in a season of disorientation.  We have been there for some time. As beautiful as it can be, our American Democracy has been a humiliation since its inception. A government that was created, at least in words, to promote the welfare of the people and provide domestic tranquility, and secure blessing of liberty has always been disoriented, it acted as a government that promoted hate, created racial division and oppressed it’s poor. Do I hate our Democratic Republic? No. I just expect it to grow into its true self.

            What is hindering America’s growth? People holding on to ideas that have passed. Each time we find some form of new orientation there has been a reaction by the Klan, or some white supremist group. Reconstruction introduced a rise in the Klan. When African American Soldier returning from WWI and WWII there was rise in the Klan. During the Civil Rights Movement, there was a rise in the Klan membership.  The election of Barack Obama in 2008, yes, a rise in the Klan membership and White supremist groups.

The Constitution was signed by men who owned slaves.  

            After passing of the 14th and 15th Amendments which gave citizenship and voting rights to African Americans, blacks were disfranchised for the vote, black codes were created and segregation became the law of the land.  At the same time, a penal labor system comprised mostly of African American males was used to replace free enslaved labor. It was known as Convict Leasing and was implemented mostly in the southern states. In 1889 73% of Alabama’s entire annual revenue came from convict leasing. Humiliation!

If you have not seen the documentary “Slavery by Another Name,” I strongly recommend it.

The first anti-lynching campaign to make lynching a federal crime was in 1898 by Ida B. Wells, and fell on the death ears of President McKinley.  Some 4,000 African American’s were lynched between 1877-1950. Now an anti-lynching bill his being held up by one man in the Senate. Humiliation!

Another humiliation African Americans faced was Redlining.  From the 1930s to the 1970s the government legally denied home owning opportunities to African Americans. In-turn, this denied them an opportunity to build any form of wealth in America. American’s Democracy is a humiliation and the senseless deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery has caused more Americans to see it. This had been the track record of the American Democracy.

            So where does this leave us in our faith in God and America becoming a true democracy? If we understand the seasons of the Psalms we understand what is happening. The Psalms are here to strengthen our faith. The more we hold God’s promises of blessing and the more we hold to the ideas that America can become a true democracy our faith becomes stronger. We must continue to push for good. All religions in America all atheist in America and all Agnostics in America must continue to hold our government and it’s representative accountable for the good of American Democracy. Our purpose is to build a more perfect union. We are here to establish the justice for all that is promised in the 14th amendment. We will protect the life and liberty of our brothers and sister. We recognizes that the senseless killing African American is not a Black issue. It is an American issue. We the people will up hold our government to the constitution of the United States. My God, my God, a republic of justice and peace. The only agenda is God’s love, and God’s grace.

            We are shifting to a truer democracy. Some are holding on to a time that is no more. The good news is that their reactions of hate have no dominion over us. Because the kingdom of heaven is within. Our dignity our power comes from the Divine not from another person. “Keep your hand on the plow people. Hold On!”

April 7, 2020

What An Opportunity

I was walking the dog this morning and saw one of my neighbors. Because of Corvid-19, we have to be aware of how close we are and we keep a safe distance from each other. But I think It also causes us to be more intent on speaking to others when we see them outside. I asked how they were doing and how her boys were. They were my students at one time. She responded in a very pleasant way by saying, “we’re surviving. I nodded and said great then continued to walk. As our dog stopped to sniff a tree, I started thinking about what my neighbor said. “Surviving.”
I started to think that surviving is the least that we do. This is our opportunity to make our own changes for the better.

To slow the spread of the Coronavirus, states have enacted stay in policies and closed schools. Business have temporarily shut down. There have been big changes in your lifestyle. So I have asked myself, what good has come out of this other than surviving? This has also been a time of great opportunity education systems. More schools around the country are now active in distance learning and providing some students rollout tech support so they can continue learning. Schools are also providing food distribution centers for families. They are playing a more active roll in the community.

A congress that have be divided over many issues, overwhelmingly approved a $2 trillion relief package that was signed by Donald Trump. It is considered the largest rescue package in American history. It has direct payments to Americans, unemployment insurance and aid for both large and small businesses. So in times of great change there is also a great opportunity for use to meet that change and make something better.

One thing that came to mind was the opportunity to make myself a better person. It caused me to put into practice the very spiritual principles that I speak of so often. One way to start is with an attitude of gratitude. Finding something to be thankful for each day. So, first thing in the morning, I say thank you God. For such a wonderful day. This simple yet powerful act sets the tone for my day. I consciously choose to find the good or beauty in my world.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ.”
In this time of change, some of us are in a wilderness filled frustration and confusion. The spiritual practice is to recognize the worries, the fears and the frustrations then we change our focus to something we are thankful for.
The scriptures say “fear not stand firm and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today.”
As I continued on my walk, I took a moment to be thankful for the fresh air and rain this morning. I was thankful for the buds that were forming on the tree. I was thankful for the change in seasons. This is our opportunity to practice our principles. Hold fast to a thankful heart even in challenging times of change.