 Spiritual: February 08, 2012 Issue [#4863] |
  Spiritual
This week: Tell Us About the Dream Edited by: SophyBells  
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Hi, I'm SophyBells ~ your editor for this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter. This month we'll consider Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech in honor of Black History Month, observed during the month of February in the United States.
The Rev. Scotty McLennan, author of the book Finding Your Religion, compares humanity's innate need for spiritual searching to climbing a mountain. In his view, we are all endeavoring to climb the same figurative mountain in our search for the divine, we just may take different ways to get there. In other words, there is one "God," but many paths. I honor whatever path or paths you have chosen to climb that mountain in your quest for the Sacred.  |
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Tell Them About the Dream
When people remember Dr. Martin Luther King, who would have turned 83 last month, one of the first things that probably comes to mind is his "I Have a Dream" speech delivered while standing before the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963 at the March on Washington. According to several accounts, King had originally prepared a short and somewhat formal recitation of the sufferings of African American people, and was about to sit down when gospel singer Mahalia Jackson called out, "Tell them about your dream, Martin! Tell them about the dream!" Encouraged by the crowd he continued, delivering the legendary and partly improvised "I have a dream" portion of the speech.
(You can listen to/read the speech here: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm)
Tell them about the dream.
Certainly Mahalia's words remain pertinent today. Spiritual people of all faiths are called to speak a prophetic word, speak truth to power - to "tell them about the dream." And these days the role of dreaming, of using our imagination to facilitate the transformation of persons and nations is more important than ever. Experiences of unemployment, violence, injustice, war, and poverty often narrow our vision, imprisoning us in the difficult reality of the present moment. At such times, we often lose our dreams, mistaking realism for reality a our goal becomes merely to survive, and it takes all the energy we have to look beyond our misfortunes and failures.
But holy imagination can deliver us from hopelessness and open the door to new possibilities. This larger vision - the power of holy imagination, the lure of an alternative reality - has always been the inspiration for prophets and seekers of justice from all religious traditions, as the dream reminds us that within what we perceive as limitations are always possibilities for advancement and growth.
In addition to his civil rights advocacy, Dr. King was a progressive, an advocate for economic as well as social justice. In fact, if Dr. King were alive today, he would likely have choice words for the bankers of our nation, among others - and the government for letting them get away with it. If Dr. King had lived, his would probably have been a strong voice against the so-called "prosperity gospel," which is materialism dressed up in faux-Christian guise.
Because he is no longer with us physically we can only speculate about what he might or might not say - but knowing he remains with us in spirit, perhaps we can go a step further in imagining and sharing our own dreams, inspired by Martin's dream to tell others about the dream. The words and deeds of Martin Luther King invite and challenge us to large and honorable dreams of our own, dreams for our own corner of the world as well as for the rest of creation.
Tell them about the dream.
You are invited to respond to this newsletter by sharing your dream - your vision for the larger global community. It can be one line, or many more lines. Whatever you come up with, make sure you share it with me so I can share it with others.
Tell us about the dream ...
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Below you'll find some spiritual offerings from other WDC members. Please let the folks know if you read their piece by leaving a thoughtful comment or review.
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Here is a response to my last newsletter "Spiritual Newsletter (January 11, 2012)" about the futility of trying to "name" the Sacred:
From ANN Counselor, Lesbian & Happy 
your newsletter was far too long; far too small type face; without space for the eye to rest; and, therefore unreadable. I started to read it because I liked the short paragraphs that introduced it; but it is just not easy on the eyes. Sorry... ANN
Hope you like this one better - it's much shorter.
Sorry you didn't care for the previous newsletter. Small font is easily remedied. Just hold down your control key on your keyboard and scroll your mouse - you can increase or decrease the font size on your screen.
My wordiness, not as easily remedied.  Maybe just skip my newsletters when they come across your email.
   
From Zeke 
When we think of the omnipotence of our creator, we have to conclude that we cannot read his mind. We just have to accept his love.
Zeke
Well said, thanks Zeke.
Please keep your comments and suggestions coming! Until next time! SophyBells |
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