On a peaceful sunny day, a lighthouse on a rocky coast is a lovely sight. I enjoy traveling to the coast (especially Maine) to visit lighthouses and have been known to sit on rocky alcoves to simply stare at them as the waves crash on the rocks below.
The importance of a lighthouse as a light filled beacon during stormy and dangerous times is where its power shines, however. Its light fills the dark night sky bringing hope, safety and guidance.
During this dark and heavy time, we have the ability to become sources of light for others, caring beacons of hope even reaching over great distances. Lighthouses providing guidance, love and a haven.
The goal of this thread is to shine a light on human lighthouses and light workers, to amplify their beacons of light-filled hope.
We do not need to simply sit in darkness. We can help shine the light.
The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde
Many of us first learned of Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde from her sermon at the National Prayer service in the Washington D. C. National Cathedral the day after the election. She gave a heartfelt and courageous speech directly to Donald Trump regarding having mercy on LGBTQ+ and migrant communities.
Talk about a LIGHTHOUSE!
What many of us may not have known is what she did for the family of Matthew Shepard in 1918.
In 2018 — 20 years after his horrific torture and murder — Matthew Shepard still had no permanent resting place due to concerns that his grave would be desecrated. When The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde learned of this, she invited the Shepards to inter him in the columbarium inside the Washington National Cathedral and co-officiated the service which stated Matthew was now and forever home in the church where he was loved.
"There will be young people from all across the country, having tours here and being educated here," she said. "When they pass by, they will see a plaque in his honor. They will see that this is a church that has learned from the example of violence that we need to stand and be counted as among those who work for justice and the full embrace of all God's children."
Bishop Budde sees his internment as having great significance.
"There will be young people from all across the country, having tours here and being educated here," she said. "When they pass by, they will see a plaque in his honor. They will see that this is a church that has learned from the example of violence that we need to stand and be counted as among those who work for justice and the full embrace of all God's children."
The full sermon from The National Prayer service.
@lovendures, that was a lovely comment. I have been thinking about Mathew Sheppard as I have watched things unfold, and I am sadly not able to feel confident that something like that won't happen again. I wonder if ye and thee and others may be recollecting his legacy just to draw on energy to keep people safe. I want to hope so.
I think it would be a beautiful idea to keep our energy, prayers and meditations focused on our targeted and disenfranchised groups. Perhaps when any of these groups or a specific person from them pops into your head, say a pray and send them love or healing. Maybe Matthew Shepard is helping us all now. What a beautiful thought to think of MLK and Sheppard together helping Budde.
Homemade Clam Chowder. I tell you it's a balm for the soul. It's one of the things I miss from the northeast, as well as the famous Maine lobster rolls.
Free building plans to plant a garden to sustain a neighborhood.
Investors and empaths with deeper pockets take note.
@anya A better response would be communities coming together to plant community gardens.... as we have done here. No one needs deep pockets ... just willing to volunteer and create a sustainable victory garden in their communities splitting the costs of the seeds and the volunteer labor and care for the garden.
https://themetroatlantaurbanfarm.org/community-garden/
In fact, you can Google Community Gardens and see lots of states have started them.
An Awesome Lighthouse moment happened tonight. It made me sooooo happy too.
The Best Rock performance at the Grammy's went to The Beatles tonight for "Now and Then". If you don't know the song and don't know the story behind it, please look it up. It is the most Spirit driven song and I dare say miraculously created song in recent memory. I got chills and cried when I first heard it. And multiple times since.
An additional Lighthouse moment at tonight's Grammys came when Jimmy Carter won posthumously for his self narrated audio-book about his Sunday School lessons.
Well done Mr. President.
But wait, there's more. Beyonce finally won her first album of the year and who would have ever guessed it would be for a country album? Finally. Seriously, it's way over due.
Who knew the Grammy's, The Beatles, Jimmy Carter and Beyonce would all come together tonight and bring such bright light during such a dark time.
The Beatles guys!! I LOVE Now and Then!! Can you tell?
It looks like Teen Vogue and Rolling Stone Magazine are covering f47 and important issues in ways many regular news outlets haven't. Really glad they are reaching younger people.
https://www.teenvogue.com/story/rfk-health-secretary-and-research-at-risk
https://www.teenvogue.com/story/mass-deportation-trump-immigration-activists
https://www.teenvogue.com/story/trump-climate-change-activists
In my work I often look at ‘best practices’ and what could have been done differently or did/didn’t work historically. I spent the weekend looking at this- what stood out to me was targeting infrastructure- since this isn’t my arena I think it means targeted hacking to attempt to delay and disrupt- during the holocaust it would have been damaging railroads for example. I’m not a hacker but I think the tools to disrupt the administration based on history will be less conventional and more creative - with the goal to disrupt or delay more than to stop or prevent.
It shouldn't surprise anyone that the governor of Maine, the state known the world over for its beautiful lighthouses, would become one herself. The following exchange between the current president and governor Mills of Maine took place in the State Dinning Room where governors across the nation were listing to a speech by the leader of what was once the free world.
“Is Maine here, the governor of Maine?” he asked.
“I’m here,” she replied.
“Are you not going to comply with it?” he asked, referencing his executive order banning transgender athletes from sports programs.
“I’m complying with state and federal laws,” Mills replied.
Trump responded, “We are the federal law.” He again threatened the state’s federal funding and said Maine may be a Democratic state but its residents largely agree with him on this issue.
“We’re going to follow the law,” she said.
“You’d better comply,” Trump warned. “Otherwise, you’re not getting any federal funding.”
“We’ll see you in court,” the governor replied.
“Good, I’ll see you in court. I look forward to that. That should be a real easy one,” Trump said. “And enjoy your life after governor because I don’t think you’ll be in elected politics.”
I am certain he is seething that he was publicly defined, especially by a WOMAN.
@lovendures Thanks for sharing. Love the way he started to say "I" am the federal law and then caught himself and changed it to "we".
Today August 15, is BE BRAVE DAY in the USA. People are gathering on bridges and high places with protest signs. You can find one near you or just stand up on an overpass and hold a protest sign.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/50501movement/posts/1110454660691862/
This is what someone posted on a heavily traveled overpass today in my town.
Newsom: "Donald Trump, you have poked the bear."
Thank you, Governor Newsom, for your bravery. We have to stand up to this president before it is too late to stand up.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-8QgGYc7Z1o
@bluebelle @lovendures @lynn @deetoo @sealion @dannyboy @mkay @tybin @joy @ana
@jeanne-mayell Without question, this is a great man. I wonder if this is the prelude to a prediction of yours from 2012 and Tonya W from 2024 about individual US-states like California becoming as independent as possible between 2025 and 2026.
2025 & beyond: The country becomes more decentralized long-term. People turn away from the federal government and towards their state and local governments. (Jeanne Mayell) Predicted in 2012 for longterm
2025 & beyond: California becomes as close to an independent country as possible while still part of the union. (Jeanne Mayell) Predicted 2012 for long term future.
I don’t see a structured government. I see independent states. America is fractured but renewed. (Tonya W) Predicted 9.30.24 for 2024-2026.
@Jeanne-mayell Trump administration to scale back in part federal control of Washington DC police department Protests and emergency court hearing had a first effect
I have come to believe that everyday right now is "Be Brave" Day.
Being Brave comes in many forms and different sizes.I find myself often recognizing and appreciating other people's bravery and I even recognizing some of my own.
Sometimes we are brave KNOWING what is to come and facing that reality head on. At other times we have no idea what we're about to face and yet we step forward into that uncertainty with resolve and determination regardless of the unknown which is about to unfold.
I've had many Be Brave Days lately. Most are of a personal (micro)nature related to having 2 broken ankles, surgery and navigating through an unforeseen life reality-check this summer.
When adding the reality of our never-ending, earth shattering, daily macro political authoritarian news events, well...just wow! IT is beyond description really.
And yet, that which I have no words for, seems to be presenting me with a rare opportunity. It is why I believe I am here on earth at this particular moment in time. I don't think I'm alone either. Perhaps you feel the same way as I do.
That this moment of time is our Selma March, our tearing down of the Berlin Wall. Our French Revolution and French Resistance. Our hiding of Jews in attics and slaves in Underground Railroad safe houses. Our Tiananmen Square protest and Salt March. Our Anti- Apartheid movement and Standing Rock protest.
We are living in a moment of history which puts the "human" in humanity.
My goal right now is to be brave enough to get myself through my own personal trauma so I can heal. Then I will be more capable of gathering my humanity and put my civic bravery to good use.
We're running a marathon. Maybe even an Ironman Triathlon. Or perhaps we are all simply attempting to get ourselves back home from the upside down world in Stranger Things.
We are living in times where "Be Brave Day" is everyday. Sometimes that only means being brave enough to allow hope to enter our hearts and guide us one step forward. Sometimes it is being brave enough to help guide someone else forward through the darkness.
Do what you can, when you can, where you can.
Every Day is Be Brave Day right now.
Today I found a way to climb into a swimming pool without help and exercise my legs so I could build up some muscle in my calves as safely as possible to help me walk again.
I also took a chance and wrote some thoughts about being brave to you guys tonight. One step forward with hope.
May we all discover we are braver than we think.
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