DESTINY UNFOLDS WHEN A HEART EMBRACES IT

Sunset at Sachuest September 2009
Middletown, Rhode Island

meditate

Photo credit: Sandra Hammel

I love to write in my journals. I only have 3 blank pages left, so journal number 21 is about to begin. I write a lot to gain clarity, process personal pain, write about social injustice, the needs of children. And my son. Many books from past years are full of relationships that now as I read those pages, I realize I tried too hard to make something work that wasn't destined to work.

Today I wrote to my son in my journal...

September 20, 2009

1:45 p.m.

A stray sentence once in a while in the times we have been together over the years, I have heard you say or merely mention your saxophone, your clarinet, heard you recently read your own poetry that you obviously felt drawn to do –

Please bear with me so I can say to you – it seems to me to be apparent that your playing music, your writing, is a way for you to feel more yourself, lets you feel your soul in a way that is uniquely you.

Be aware of this specialness. Always be aware, the gift of doing these things, where art can be a “home” for your spirit, your heart, your soul. Don’t let the busyness of life cheat you out of being in your art, whatever it is – music, writing, drawing, creating. “Being” in these art moments will bring you more joy, peace, depth of feeling than the business of life can ever mimic.

You are your destiny. The universe is unfolding you and for you. Be mindful of it. It will be a source of joy, contentment, sustenance and freedom from anxiety.

Always be listening for the destiny’s voices. The destiny happens when we let it.

In a way, it is our job to be happy, to be kind. All else is a form of waiting for these moments.

End of Journal entry

.................................................................

.................................................................

The Four Feathers - DVD Special Feature segment 4 - 8:15

At 4:13 " Eastern philosophies fundamentally say that ... human beings are stronger if they embrace their destinies. They believe that destiny is given. And therefore, your strength, your honor, your dignity, your purpose in life lies in your embracing your destiny." Shekhar Kapur, Director of The Four Feathers

Uploaded by springrose147

I encourage my son to follow his dreams. I hope that he will.

I haven't always followed mine front and center. But I have always been nearby the dreams. Never completely off the track. I have followed my heart, confused as it has been, at times. I have been honest with myself.

Recently, I had a "SoulProfile" done. A Soul Profile lists lifetimes lived before, where my soul originated and other places I have visited and the gifts that I have gained from those places. Whether others believe in such things, is a personal thing, like other beliefs. When I was in my early twenties and taking a required course in philosophy at an extremely conservative fundamentalist Christian college, it came to me that believing is a personal thing, in that, where we choose to draw the line of what to live by is arbitrary for the most part. As someone who was raised to be a fundamental Christian, including the dos and don'ts of my parents' beliefs - I was searching for my own principles of what to live my life by.

I threw out the don'ts of don't: dance, wear make-up of any kind, go to movies, wear jewelry, conservative everything... and the limitations of what a female should and shouldn't do. The don'ts of what is acceptable got a major overhaul by me. In my family, I am the odd one out. I am okay with that because I have no other choice. I have followed my destiny. I am at "home" with my music, my writing, my creating. I am most alive at times that I am in touch with my rawest and deepest parts of my spirit. It is a time of communion with my destiny, my universe.

We are breathing energy and the fact that the universe is like a big complex energy field, makes it acceptable for me - to believe we are part of the universe of energy. And just because we are life forms as human beings, that doesn't mean that there aren't other life forms that manifest differently from our physical forms.

The centering thought for me

I think the most important thing is to be kind. Kind to ourselves and kind to others. Kindness is always welcome.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

I have found pretentious people repelling. Always.

People who are closest to being themselves are the ones I want to be in the presence of.

I like this story...

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

"I suppose you are real?" said the Rabbit. And then he wished he had not said it, for he thought the Skin Horse might be sensitive. But the Skin Horse only smiled.

"The Boy's Uncle made me Real," he said. "That was a great many years ago; but once you are Real you can't become unreal again. It lasts for always."

Excerpt from The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

Read the full story: http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/williams/rabbit/rabbit.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Four Feathers is probably my favorite movie with Heath Ledger. And that is saying a lot. Although he lived a short life, he played his roles with such realness. Such authenticity. He let the characters come through him as he was their vessel. This movie's story has such depth. It is about destiny and finding yourself with the willingness to do what it takes to do so.

I highly recommend The Four Feathers and watching its special features. Below are some of the special features uploaded by springrose147.

.................................................................

.................................................................

The Four Feathers - DVD Special Feature segment 1 - 7:50

Uploaded by springrose147

.................................................................

.................................................................

The Four Feathers - DVD Special Feature segment 2 - 8:03

Uploaded by springrose147

.................................................................

.................................................................

The Four Feathers - DVD Special Feature segment 3- 7:58

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Embracing more than western religion

Click on post title to go to Joseph Campbell talking with Bill Moyers talking of Faith and Religion - Perspectives. Included there, is text as well as audio.

REV LOWERY RHYMED THE DAY ~ BLACK BACK, BROWN aROUND, YELLOW MELLOW, RED aHEAD, WHITE RIGHT

"We ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around. When yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen." From Reverend Joseph Lowery's Inaugural Benediction January 2009

Odetta wanted to sing at President Obama's Inauguration,
however she died December 3, 2008.
Odetta was born December 31 1930.
I want to include Odetta on this post to honor her wish.
...........................................................

...........................................................
Odetta sings We Shall Overcome and This Little Light of Mine
Thanks to Thespadecaller
...........................................................

...........................................................
Odetta in an interview on Human Rights
Thanks to visionaryproject

Odetta - sings Glory Hallelujah

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rev. Joseph Lowery ends his benediction with a mention of racial work still to be done

Source: www.chicagotribune.com

By Associated Press

1:14 PM CST, January 20, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) — Amid the outpouring of inaugural joy over the racial progress represented by President Barack Obama, there was a single, humorous mention of work still to be done.

After the first black president had been sworn in, Rev. Joseph Lowery' ended his benediction with a rhyme familiar to black churchgoers:

"We ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around..."

There was laughter from the enormous crowd. The 87-year-old civil rights pioneer continued:

"When yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen."

The crowd thundered, "Amen!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lowery Grateful That Nation Believes 'yes We Can'

Rev. Lowery Offers Benediction Praying For Obamas And For Economic Recovery

(AP) The Rev. Joseph Lowery has thanked God for letting Barack Obama inspire the nation to believe that "yes, we can" work together toward a "more perfect union."

Delivering a benediction at the end of Obama's inauguration ceremony, Lowery said Obama takes office at a "low moment" in the nation's and the world's economic health. He prayed for an end to "exploitation" of the weak and poor, and what he called "favoritism toward the rich."

The 87-year-old Methodist is considered the dean of the civil rights movement, helping lead the Montgomery bus boycotts in the 1950s and delivering a list of demands to Alabama Gov. George Wallace during the bloody Selma-Montgomery March in 1965.

After being asked to deliver the benediction at Obama's inauguration, Lowery said he's long hoped that an African-American would one day become president, but didn't think he'd live long enough to see it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The election does not augur a "post-racial" era any more than it ends the civil rights struggle, writes Rev. Joseph Lowery. (Tribune photo by Alex Garcia / January 15, 2009)

Civil rights figure Rev. Joseph Lowery reflects on a movement

Rev. Joseph Lowery, 87, a major figure in the civil rights movement who marched with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to overturn discrimination in voting rights and other aspects of American public life, will give the benediction at Barack Obama's inauguration Tuesday. The Tribune invited Lowery to reflect on the journey from King to Obama. Here is his essay.

They tell me that when you stand on the Capitol steps and look down the Mall, you can see the Lincoln Memorial. I look forward to that experience when Barack Obama takes the oath to become the 44th president of these United States.

I will look down that Mall and in my mind's eye I will see a 34-year-old preacher standing before a crowd of nearly a quarter of a million at that Lincoln Memorial in 1963, calling on Americans to move beyond the color of their skin to the content of their character.

Obama's inauguration is a nation's response to that call.

We celebrate Martin Luther King's 80th

birthday the day before the nation's first black president takes office. Obama accepted his party's nomination on the 45th anniversary of that young preacher's "I have a dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial. Interesting connections, right?

In those days, we thought there would be a black person serving as president someday, but I don't recall any of us thinking we would live to see that day.

When Martin was killed in April 1968, there were only a few hundred black elected officials in the U.S. Today the number is around 10,000!

The 1965 Voting Rights Act—the most significant legislation in my lifetime—opened the door to political emancipation. In 1965, the first casualty of the voting-rights campaign, Jimmie LeeAlabama state trooper in a town named Marion. Out of this tragedy came the idea of marching from Selma to Montgomery to gain national support for the right to vote. Then Martin named a committee to take our demands to Gov. George Wallace, and I was appointed chairman.

But when we reached the Capitol steps to go to the governor's office, we were blocked by a sea of blue-uniformed state troopers. The National Guard was there too, and was authorized to protect us. I looked back at the general of the National Guard, and he barked some commands to the guardsmen and they tramped over in front of the state troopers and made motions with their rifles across their shoulders. Just as dramatically as it sounds, the "blue sea" parted, and we walked up the steps to the door of the Capitol. Moses had the Red Sea—we had the blue sea!

Even so, the governor didn't want to meet us, so he sent his secretary to ask for our demands. I said we didn't march 50 miles from Selma to give our concerns to the governor's secretary. A few days later, Wallace finally met with us.

Our struggle in Alabama awakened the nation, and the Voting Rights Act soon became the law of the land.

The "I have a dream" speech is Martin's most famous and is an international institution. It has been so used and abused that sometimes I think its beauty and power may have been tucked away. There are forces in this country who have deviously used lines from the speech to claim that Martin opposed affirmative action! As we celebrate Dr. King's 80th birthday, I want to call your attention to my favorite of all his writings, "Letter from Birmingham Jail."

In the heat of the Birmingham movement, eight white Alabama clergymen issued a statement calling on Dr. King to halt the demonstrations. Interestingly enough, the clerics affirmed the righteousness of the cause but condemned the timing. "Wait," they cried, "for a more convenient season."

Martin's response, written on scraps of paper, even toilet paper (jailers would provide no paper at all), was classic. He expounded on the efficacy of non-violence in achieving social change, the urgency of now and the futility of waiting on a more propitious moment. He set forth the moral and theological underpinnings of the movement. He discussed the nature and purpose of "direct action"—civil disobedience—and explained his great disappointment with the failure of white moderates and the white church to come to grips with the moral imperatives of both the Christian and Jewish faiths.

He made clear that the goal of the movement was not to defeat white folks but to change a system that harmed both the oppressor and the oppressed.

To appropriately celebrate Martin, we must honor both the man and the movement. To ennoble the man and ignore the movement is to do injustice to both. We must not let the spirit of the movement be overcome with sentimental ceremonies that omit the sacramental nature of the struggle. Ceremonies end with the benediction while sacraments begin with the benediction. Ceremony is like putting a ring on her finger at the wedding. Sacrament is ringing her life with love and joy ever after.

"Letter from Birmingham Jail" keeps the focus on the movement—the continuing struggle for justice. The need to honor the mission as well as the missionary is expressed in a poem by Carl Wendell Hines called "Now That He Is Safely Dead":

Now that he is safely dead

Let us praise him ...

Dead men make

such convenient heroes: They

cannot rise

to challenge the images

we would fashion from their lives.

And besides,

it is easier to build monuments

than to make a better world.

Now that the American people have elected an African-American president, I'm hearing terms like "post-racial." I don't understand that any more than "post-civil-rights." Are people implying that we have reached the goals of the movement now that we have a black president? No way. The election of one black even to the most powerful office on the planet does not resolve all the problems of racial discrimination. The advocacy community must continue to "speak truth to power" no matter who holds the reins of power. The racial/ethnic/color/gender identity of the powerful should change from time to time, but the advocacy for "justice to roll down as waters" must be everlasting.

The median income of blacks is about two-thirds of the median income of whites; the criminal justice system of 2008 is too much like the criminal justice system of 1938 as far as race is concerned. But thank the Lord, we have come a long, long way, and I am proud of my country for the election of Barack Obama. It is a giant step forward.

When I recall the image of that preacher at the Lincoln Memorial on Tuesday, I'm sure he will be smiling, and both of us may have eyes moistened with tears of joy. I'm equally certain that we will continue to pray for justice to roll down as waters, and for that day when there will be peace in the valley, and for that day when every man and every woman will sit under his or her own vine and fig tree and none will be afraid, and for that day when black will not be asked to get back, brown can stick around, yellow will be mellow, the red man can get ahead, man, and white will embrace what is right! Amen! Read the article at the source www.chicagotribune.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jan-19-2009

Civil rights figure Rev. Joseph Lowery reflects on a movement

(topic overview)
CONTENTS:

• You're free when you do what you ought to do." (More...)
• Lowery and King founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957 to fight racial segregation and other injustices. (More...)
• As in so many political cartoons during the campaign season, the word '''change''' could be interpreted as the kind that goes ka-ching ''' and hasn'''t been doing so lately. (More...)
• 'We are witnessing the swearing-in of the 44th president, who happens to be a black person, and that's unprecedented,' Lowery said from his home in Atlanta. (More...)

Source: newsfeedresearcher.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Genocide Ends

When Enough of Us

Stand Up Against It

JOIN US
1-800-GENOCIDE
www.savedarfur.org
www.genocideintervention.net
www.standnow.org

www.miafarrow.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MEDIA FAILS HUMANS

“We are visitors on this planet.
We are here for ninety or one hundred years
at the very most.
During that period,
we must try to do something good ,
something useful, with our lives.

If you contribute to other people’s happiness,
You will find the true goal, the true meaning of life.

H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama

...........................

Anup Shah, Poverty Facts and Stats, GlobalIssues.org, Last updated: Tuesday, March 04, 2008

...........................

Below is copied from the above website link.

Who am I, why am I doing this? (not me...a kindred spirit, though)

I am Anup Shah, the editor of this web site. My roots lie in India, via my grandparents—my parents grew up in East Africa. Born in 1974, I grew up in England for 23 years and then got the opportunity to work in the USA for almost four years. In June 2001, I moved back to England.

Living and working in the US was an amazing experience for me. However, I quickly became concerned at what appeared to be rather poor quality mainstream media. International coverage appeared incredibly lacking and when available, very narrow. And so, in mid-1998 this web site (initially just something to do in order to learn about developing web sites!) started.

The mainstream media is one of the most important aspects of a functioning and participatory democracy. It helps us form our views of the world around us, influence our opinion and let us learn about all manner of things we may otherwise never come across. It is incredibly beneficial, but in today’s world it also has real problems. Just as good quality and diverse mainstream media enhances democracy, poor quality and narrow mainstream media can negatively impact democracy.

............................

If you read my previous post, you know I so agree with Anup Shah. The internet is used for many things. And gratefully, those who have knowledge of how to use it, does include those with compassion, a desire to do something to better our life on the whole by helping people one by one. It won't happen without our participation.

This is worth your time:
www.globalissues.org

This was taken from his front page:
“If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it. If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, he will accept it even on the slightest evidence.” — Bertrand Russell, Roads to Freedom

This website is right where my heart is
www.globalissues.org/about/why
...this is how we live a life that is with purpose

RSS for Global Issues.org explains about RSS Web Feed and other things:
www.globalissues.org/rss

WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?

Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love. Martin Luther King, Jr.

NO ONE ELSE BUT ME - is that the core of how we live our daily lives, that our own existence is all that matters? What do those in your life require of you? What keeps you from yourself? What gets in the way of feeling your feelings? What do you want to feel? Does it matter? Does it matter how you treat others? These are just words. Just questions...

Why care? I want to believe that I am one who cares not only for myself but for the quality of life of others.

I know people in my own experience who pretend to be compassionate, good and caring people but they only care about themselves and no one else. The desired image of who they are, though, is at odds with how they behave. They are willing to sacrifice their own children to save their own egos. It is hard to believe. But there it is. Too real and blatant to dismiss.

The truth is caring about not only our own needs but others is the grace that I believe is our best opportunity to free us from the chains of self emotional strangulation. Giving kindness to others does not take anything worthy from us.

Kindness helps promote kindness in others. I am sure that is true. When someone is unkind to me I feel hurt. It affects me. When someone is kind or in a good mood, I am also affected. I feel better. I have heard it claimed that studies have shown our bodies release endorphins when we show an act of kindness and with that same act of kindness, endorphins are released as well in not only the recipient, but those who observe the kindness, too. Even if this weren't true, what would it matter?

When I am in the presence of mean-spirited behavior, it doesn't feel good. When I am anything but hopeful, kind or tactfully truthful, I feel off-balance. If I act ugly, I feel ugly. And personally, I don't want to feel that way. It is not a pleasing feeling.

We can choose to be kind. Or not. The goal to feel powerful seduces many into thinking that belittling others will make themselves feel more powerful.

Here's the Leap
Caring about something outside our own personal lives would promote a healthier, more balanced life. A step toward justice, freedom as a right for each human and truth as the foundation to ...well, everything.

I can't solve the world's problems or love everyone personally. But I can do something.

I have chosen the End of Genocide as my main issue to consistently address. Not the only concern, but I remain focused on it more than any other.

Here is my most recent Letter to the Editor of my local newspaper, The Newport Daily News.
Enlarge it by clicking on it.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir: The Record Speaks for Itself

The U.N. Security Councl on Darfur ~ Irresolution

If you choose to do something:

1-800-GENOCIDE

www.savedarfur.org

Kindness as a Way to Live:

The Value of Kindness and Practical Reasons to Be a Nicer Person

Master the Art_ of Loving Simply

Why Teach Kids to Care

Inspirational and Kindness quotes

From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.
Arthur Ashe, American Tennis Player, Activist

WE WANT A DREAM FOR DARFUR...OUR SILENCE KILLS

WHAT WE DO FOR OURSELVES DIES WITH US.

WHAT WE DO FOR OTHERS REMAINS IMMORTAL.

I spent my day working toward Rhode Island’s event that is a part of international effort, The Dream for Darfur. Many around the planet believe that Genocide needs and deserves each of us to use our voice toward ending the Darfur Genocide. I have seen the hateful comments, on YouTube and elsewhere, written about Americans who, like myself, are working toward this end, however I, like others, do this work not because our government’s actions are just, but because we believe it is the right thing for us to do, personally.

This effort brings attention to China who has two oil companies, PetroChina and Sinopec, in Sudan who make money for President Omar al-Bashir’s Sudanese government who uses 70% of his budget on the military, which in turn uses that military on the Darfur people. China has a unique position to help use their leverage with the Sudanese government to end the genocide. And China has begun to do so as recently as July 31, 2007.

..........................................................................................

..........................................................................................

Mia Farrow lighting the torch on Darfur's border
August 9, 2007.

The Dream for Darfur torch relays that tie the Chinese Olympics to Sudan have begun in countries that know genocide because they are Rwanda and Sudan. Pictures here are of these torch relays and events that started August 8, 2007, one year to the day before opening ceremonies in Beijing, China, on 8-8-08.

Two survivors of the Rwandan genocide passing the torch to each other

The following pictures were all just taken in Kigali, Rwanda
on August 15, 2007

Mia Farrow and a survivor of the Rwandan genocide
walk with the newly lit torch

Rwandan survivor, Mia Farrow, Odette Nsengimana, Clare-Hope Ashitey, and Ira Newble walk behind the torch

The group follows the route that victims in 1994 were forced to walk to Nyanza, where they were slaughtered

U.S. Congressman Donald Payne passes the torch to IBUKA
President Theodore Simburudali

Jospeh Nsengimana and Congressman Donald Payne. The shirt that Nsengimana is wearing was made by Rwandan survivors.

Jill Savitt the Director of The Dream for Darfur effort.

Odette Nsengimana (Rwandan), Omer Ismael (Darfurian), and Mia Farrow

Ruth Messinger, Odette Nsengimana, Omer Ismael, and Mia Farrow

Mia Farrow, Odette Nsengimana, Joseph Nsengimana, and Darfurian Omer Ismael

Congressman Payne, Clare-Hope Ashitey, Ira Newble, and Mia Farrow

Our event will take place in Providence, Rhode Island October 27, 2007 and is listed at www.savedarfur.org/dreamfordarfur Just click “Find an Event”

Get Involved To Stop Genocide

www.savedarfur.org

www.dreamfordarfur.org

www.standnow.org

www.genocideintervention.net

SILENCE KILLS

EVEN WHEN YOU’RE TOO BUSY