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