Time and Co-Creation: A reflection inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

One piece of artfully crafted thought that I return to time and time again is The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King JR’s Letter from A Birmingham Jail. It’s a work of intellectual reflection that can be studied for revolution and self reflection for years to come. 

It’s profound to me because he’s writing to friends, colleagues, siblings in the faith. (Of note, as we honor King, I believe we must talk about his areas for opportunity as well as areas of mastery, for King did have misogyny and sexism to root out of his being as well)  He speaks directly and pointedly, with clarity and authority. It is the following portion that speaks to me this year most profoundly as I sit in a space of reflection. 

‘Time itself is neutral; it can be used either destructively or constructively... Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability; it comes through the tireless efforts of men (people) willing to work to be co-workers with God, and without this hard work, time itself becomes an ally of the forces of social stagnation. We must use time creatively...’

Whew!

As I’ve contemplated this, I often apply King’s words to movements and political revolutions and less to the revolution of the internal space; personal revolution. Yet King always tackled the internal motivation that led to external result. 

To be an advocate, to be an activist, internal work is of the utmost importance. However, I think it’s necessary to briefly muse on the nature of activism, not just as a noun or verb, but also theory and philosophy. 

Looking at activism through a holistic lens, I think we begin to see a connectedness. Activism combines experience and education in a way that gives voice to the liberation of those we are advocating for. Dr. King’s activism involved mind, body (physicality), and spirit. I believe so must ours. In short, being an activist through this lens would lend itself to being one that cultivates healthy relationship. Healthy relationship where we are co-workers, co-creators recognizing the divine in each of us, striving to create the conditions conducive to liberating the least of us.

What has been rumbling within me the last few months though, is the need to create healthy relationship with resource. A dear mentor of mine would ask, ‘Where are you putting your time, talent, and treasure?’ Time is our most precious resource where we show what and who we value by how we give or allocate where it’s spent. So it is in our thriving interest to understand how to use our time wisely and interrogate if we are using it effectively.

So often we intend to use our time in wise and effective ways but don’t take the time to educate ourselves on how to be effective. Dr King said of those with good intentions:

‘People with good intention but limited understanding are more dangerous than people with total ill will’

We tend to look at education through an elitist perspective instead of the reality of being. To breathe is to have the opportunity to learn. To breathe is to have the opportunity to experience. To breathe is to have the opportunity to be in relationship. To breathe is to have the opportunity to co-create with our fellow divine human siblings.
Dr. King was committed to speaking out against white supremacy and advocating for policies that in his most informed opinion would work to eradicate it.  He often would highlight how the system of whiteness uses the human condition to exploit others. Considering that a characteristic of white supremacy is an urgency that is destructive instead of constructive, I think it’s tantamount that we reflect on how we are using our time. Especially those who claim ‘wokeness’, or by another name, well-meaning white moderates and progressives. 

Rather a constructive use of our time in the work of anti-racism is to sit in relationship with others as we learn from and experience their essence. To slow down and give that valuable resource of time. It is constructive because it calls us into a type of rest where we listen, where we are energized for vigorous action. 

So let this not be the only day that you give of your time to construct, co-create. Let this not be a day where we quote the romanticized versions of Dr. King’s dreams, but holistically pursue that dream into  the depths of the systems that must be dismantled for it to be realized. May we use our time as a creative force, no matter where we are. . . work or home, jail or free. . . to be in healthy relationship with one another. Seeing one another. . .

Until we all are free.

To read Dr. King’s Letter from Birmingham jail in full, click the link below.

https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html

Discovering Life

What does it mean to discover life? 

Honestly, that can take on a multitude of definitions and how I define it has evolved over time depending on the circumstances in my life. However, I think that I've settled on a definition that really captures what I mean when I say discovering life. I've even made it the first phase of my coaching process. 

When we break down the word discover and life, Merriam Webster's dictionary defines it the process of making known or visible; obtaining sight or knowledge for the first time. From the same source, I've honed in on this explanation of life: the sequence of physical and mental experiences that make up the existence of an individual. 

How does one make something known or visible? How do we learn or obtain knowledge? How do we discover life?

First, we must be open and willing to receive. Why are children so teachable? They know that they do not know. . . so they ask questions. It's a beautiful thing. They are like sponges, soaking up information until they cannot take in any more. Their minds are fertile grounds, ready for seeds to be planted so that information can take root and through experience, they begin to gain wisdom. However, at some point, it appears that many lose this childlike quality and we stop asking questions. Especially the really important ones. We stop attending to the fields of the mind and leave the ground unattended to. A ground ill-prepared will not produce quality fruit.

Second, we must be present in the current moment. When we are present, we show up. We are engaged and we take ownership. We bring our whole mind, body, and spirit into the now. For a moment, we push away the things that do not exist in the now. Our ever-wandering minds want to convince us that everything else needs our attention but if you are present in this moment, you may become aware of the fact that you are breathing. Perhaps you become aware that your eyes are currently scanning a combination of symbols, organized in a particular way, formed and sequence to communicate a language. Perhaps you then become aware that you're permitting these symbols called words to flow into the window of your soul and sink into your being. Depending on where you are, you may become aware of a car horn in the distance, the soft coos of your child comforting themselves. You may become aware of the vibrant color and sounds of nature. You may be taking in the hum of a bustling city able to watch people eagerly and anxiously rushing to some unknown destination. Whatever you are able to appreciate at this moment, whatever discovery you've made in the now, is because you are present.  

This last point I'm going to make will resurface in the following post on Uncovering Purpose and Embracing joy. That is to be intentional and always show gratitude. Again, we'll talk more about this in the coming weeks but it has a large part in how we discover life. 

I'm convinced that by doing these things we come to realize that we are joyful. As I engage treatments to support my practice of maintaining balance with my dear friend Colleen, a Plant Spirit Medicine practitioner, I'm reminded that joy is not simply a feeling of happiness. Joy doesn't always feel positive and jubilant. No, it covers a range of emotions and feelings. Joy is an all-encompassing experience in life's journey. There can be joy in anger and grief even. So, if I was to concisely define what it means to discover life it would be this: 

We discover life when we are fully present to the opportunity for joy.

I've love to join you on this journey!

The Power of a Single Choice

Choices are often difficult to make. 

The never ending brain chatter. . . 

Sorting through the wisdom and foolishness we’ve been handed

Fell for hook, line, and sinker over the years.

We make them complicated. . .

We make them FEARFUL.

We make them without the guidance of spirit.

When Spirit conceived us,  nurtured us in the womb

it gave us one responsibility:

To take care.

All the great prophets of old recycled this message in different ways.

Jesus through meditation

Buddha through detachment

Muhammad through prayer.

So if I may offer an oversimplification. . . 

If I could sum up what I think the prophets were saying, it would be this:

Choose yourself.

This is counter intuitive because we have been taught that choosing ourselves is selfish. 

This could not be further from the truth.

Do not the prophets all prophesy of honor?

Treating others the way you would want to be treated.

We extend that dignity outwardly. . .

Where is the grace to apply this internally?

Do you not want to be cared for?

Then care deeply for others

Do you not want to be fed?

Then freely feed those hungering

Do you not want respect, honor, and dignity?

The give these to each other.

Do you not crave rest?

Then be a restful aroma to those in your presence.

Choices are not difficult.

We make them so.

When faced with a difficult one. . .

Simply ask: How can I show love to myself?

How can I be kind?

How do I want to be treated?

Does this uplift or deplete me?

Does this promote authenticity?

Does this further my purpose or take me aways from my gifts?

The choice is simple.

Only we can make it for ourselves.

I hope that you always choose you.

By doing so, you walk the path of the spiritual greats who came before us.

You CHOOSE to allow the divine essence to flow freely

To operate through the work of your hands

To flow from the love of your heart.

Choose you.

Choose Love.

Choose Healing.

Choose Health.

Choose Peace.

Choose You.