Fmr. President Obama spoke today at the 16th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture, and his speech was a balm for the soul. There are sober warnings throughout, but all within a framework of hope. It is all about creating a better vision for the future and overcoming the grip of fear. I was so inspired by it, I figured you would all like to see it as well.
Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=md_l4u-1vRQ&feature=youtu.be
Thank you for sharing this link. He made me laugh. It was good to remember how he meanders around random thoughts and folksy, good natured asides while still reminding us all that democracy is never easy and often quite messy.
Nice to hear him and share him with his culture of birthright even if he reminded us twice that he was born in Hawaii and needed to send an aide to the mall for long johns.
He teaches without preaching. I miss that so it was nice to listen, learn, remember, and appreciate this very good man.
There was a wonderful story in the Washington Post today about a fisherman in Tunisia who for the last 12 years has taken it upon himself to give a proper burial to the hundreds of dead immigrants who have washed up on the shore of his town. A wonderful example of someone who is "fighting darkness with eyes of light." Very inspiring. Read the article if you can.
RosieHeart, thank you for this beautiful story. Even though the situation is tragic, this man’s selfless devotion to the most oppressed people on earth—deceased migrants washed ashore with no one to honor them in death—strengthens my heart.
With the confirmation hearing tomorrow, may we revive this thread?
I feel very overwhelmed by the darkness right now, and would love to be reminded about how people are still bringing "eyes of light" to the world.
One thing that I am going to try to do in the weeks ahead is commit to spending more time really being present in nature. I planted a small butterfly garden this summer. All summer, I've been a bit disappointed as the garden didn't seem to be attracting many butterflies. Yesterday, as I was hurrying out the door to run errands, I glanced over and noticed that the garden was full of monarch butterflies. I counted at least 20! Instead of doing my errands, I decided to plunk myself down in the garden and just watch the butterflies for a while. They live such short lives, but are so beautiful and full of energy in the time they have. I was so grateful for the gift of spending time with these beautiful creatures yesterday. I felt much less anxious afterwards, and it reminded me that I need to slow down and allow myself to do more than just worry about things I can't control or change.
I would love to hear how others are finding ways to keep anchored in the light during these troubled times. Or, more stories about people who are finding ways to stay centered on the good.
Yay for reviving this thread. You just reminded me that I have to get across town to pick up a bunch of milkweed I bought from a local environmental group so I can get the butterflies back in the spring. When I put my hands in the soil or watch my plants grow, I get my faith back where it belongs -- in the power of life. It is all going to be okay. I know it is. We may not win every battle and I still haven't seen the big blue turnaround in 2020 that so many are seeing, but I see we win the WAR against darkness.
The heart warriors are already at work. Regardless of what the GOP does with Kavanaugh, light warriors everywhere are shining the light of truth and no one can take that away.
I have more to add, but I have to get that milkweed.
I am a chicken whisperer to 8 chickens that rush to greet me every time they see me, one who loves being picked up and held, A 16 year old cat that should have died 10 years ago from kidney disease, but still grooms herself and purrs in spite of being blind and deaf, 20' tall volunteer sunflowers that come up summer after summer on their own, and 3 tiny grandchildren that even at 68, I can still sing, dance, crawl on the floor and into blanket and couch cushion forts with who light up with joy and expand my heart to eternity with hope and joy for each precious moment we have in the here and now. Add in a great husband of 46 years, 3 wonderful kids with great partners I love. Well, let's just say gratitude is a powerful spirit lifter and love and hope in spite of some pretty amazing challenges in all of our lives keeps me going ?
Thank you Jeanne and Michelle. You both have made a difference in my life that is very real, even if we haven't met in person.
This morning, the Nobel Prize Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to two very deserving people, who have put their lives on the line to make a difference. They both truly see with "eyes of light" so I thought I'd add a link to an article about them here. In the darkness, it is easy to forget that people like these exist. I'll excerpt a brief part of the article as well.
The 2018 Nobel Peace Prize has gone to campaigners against rape in warfare, Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege.
Ms Murad is an Iraqi Yazidi who was tortured and raped by Islamic State militants and later became the face of a campaign to free the Yazidi people.
Dr Mukwege is a Congolese gynaecologist who, along with his colleagues, has treated tens of thousands of victims.
The winners announced in the Norwegian capital Oslo on Friday won the award for their "efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war", Berit Reiss-Andersen, the Nobel committee chair, said.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45759221
Oh, Rosieheart, we love you too!
I hadn't heard this news yet and my heart is singing at this wonderful selection!
As horrific as rape is and unimaginable that it used as a weapon of war to control and damage the mind, bodies, spirits of entire nations across the world, it is still fills my heart up to know how the courage or others to fight it and help it's victims at such great risk to themselves can be recognized and awarded this wonderful acknowledgement instead of lesser choices who have done great harm and then seek to do good right for their own good not others. And of course I am thinking of a president and two dictators who might have been picked.
Thank you for sharing❣