“Lord, make this world to last as long as possible.”   —-Prayer of an eleven year old child, on hearing of Sino-Indian Border Fighting.

 

 

Hear we are, God—a planet at prayer. Attune our spirits that we may hear your harmonies and bow before your creative power

that we may face our violent discords and join with your Energy

to make heard in every heart your hymn of peace.

 

Here we are, God—a militarized planet. Transform our fears that we may transform our war fields into wheatfields, arms into handshakes, missiles into messengers of peace.

 

Here we are, God—a polluted planet. Purify our vision that we may perceive ways to purify our beloved lands, cleanse our precious waters, de-smog our life-giving air.

 

Here we are, God—an exploited planet. Heal our heart, that we may respect our resources, hold priceless our people, and provide for our starving children an abundance of daily bread.

—Joan Mitzner

 

 

 

 

 

During this time of great unbalance on planet Earth we may feel ourselves torn between the priorities of healing ourselves—resolving our own inner spiritual or psychological problems—and attempting to cure the social and economic ills that beset our culture. While each of us undoubtedly has much inner work to do, the attitude misses the main point of Earth. It continues to view the individual as somehow separate from the rest of the world. But if we accept that we are totally part of this living Earth, then we must recognize that isolated health is an illusion. Healing ourselves and working is to resolve the contradictions in the human-Earth ecology is the same work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I have come to terms with the future. From this day onward I will walk easy on this earth. Plant trees. Kill no living things. Live in harmony with all creatures.

I will restore the earth where I am. Use no more of its resources than I need. And listen, listen to what it is telling me.”  —M.J. Slim Hooey

 

 

 

I, too

 

I, too, sing America.

 

I am the darker brother..

They send me to eat in the kitchen

When company comes,

But I laugh,

And eat well,

And grow strong.

 

Tomorrow,

I’ll be at the table

When company comes.

Nobody’ll dare

Say to me,

“Eat in the kitchen,”

Then.

 

Besides,

They’ll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed—

I, too, am American.

—-Langston Hughes.

 

Hughes was drawn to New York by its role as the crucible of black cultural activity. The work he produced there—including poetry that webbed traditional poetic forms to jazz and the blues—won him the sobriquet ” the bard of Harlem.”

 

 

 

Mother to Son

 

Well, son, I’ll tell you:

Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.

It’s had tacks in it,

And splinters,

And boards torn up,

And places with no carpet on the floor—

Bare.

But all the time

I’se been a-climbin’ on,

And reaching landin’s,

And turnin’ corners,

And sometimes goin’ in the dark

Where there ain’t been no light.

So boy, don’t you turn back.

Don’t you set down on the steps

‘Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.

Don’t you fall now—

For I’se still goin’, honey,

I’se still climbin’,

And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.

—Langston Hughes

 

 

 

 

 

We are all suffering from the stress of the tensions and wars happening all across the world. The shooting and death of Michael Brown has raised racism to the top of America’s talking points. We must be able to empathize with the pain of others. It is the only way we can stop what we are doing to each other and to our planet. Skin color, nationality, religion, sexual orientation or lifestyles do not give us reason to bring suffering, pain, or death to other living beings. We all have come into this journey of life the same way. I can see that those who hate must be surrounded by light and love. Then their power will dissipate. We need to stand up and speak up for all that is right and good and true.

 

May peace encircle the world and may all war stop. May there not be any more mass shootings. May we deserve the lives we have be given.

Namaste.