Guest blogger: Joe Reilly "ML King's Dream Is Still Alive"
Joe Reilly is a wonderfully kind and spirited human being who also happens to be a talented musician who lives in Michigan. This email came from Joe yesterday about how he's living the message of Dr. King's life: show up, be counted. Know that the good we do may not bear fruit for generations to come. Be steadfast. Walk on. --Thank you, Joe for carrying the Dream
Joe's website is: Spirit Boy--The Music of Joe Reilly
Joe Reilly's My Space
From: spiritboy-owner@lists.riseup.net [mailto:spiritboy-owner@lists.riseup.net] On Behalf Of Joe Reilly
Sent: Friday, April 04, 2008 1:54 PM
To: spiritboy@lists.riseup.net
Subject: [spiritboy] The Dream Is Still Alive
"Don't let anyone make you think that God chose America as his divine messianic force to be a sort of policeman of the whole world. God has a way of standing before the nations with judgement, and it seems that I can hear God saying to America 'You are too arrogant! If you don't change your ways, I will rise up and break the backbone of your power…Be still and know that I am God.'"
~Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Forty years ago today (April 4) Dr. King was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in my father's hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. On the night before his assassination he prophetically proclaimed:
"We've got some difficult days ahead, but it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop…Like anybody I would like to live a long life, longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And he's allowed me to go up to the mountain, and I've looked over and I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land. So I'm happy tonight. I'm not worried. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."
Dr. King lived his truths in noble and courageous ways. Even in the face of hatred and death he was a hero. His perseverance, endurance, and faith are an inspiration in these days when it can indeed be difficult to hold on to hope.
Yet even in the darkness of our times, the dream is still alive. The dream of justice, equanimity, and agape Love that Dr. King brought to the United States and this world is still alive in our hearts. Stop and listen. Can't you hear Dr. King's voice of non-fear, compassion, and non-violence in your own heart? Can't we also hear the voices of Jesus, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Dorothy Day, and our true nature? What can we do to better listen to and follow that collective voice within our hearts that calls us towards non-violence, peace, and justice?
I am helping to organize a Detroit Healing Walk to help move car-free energies of peace and non-violence through the streets of Detroit. I will be hosting a planning meeting for this walk on Tuesday April 15th at 7pm at American Indian Health and Family Services located at 4880 Lawndale in Southwest Detroit. All are welcome to attend and add to the collective visioning and planning for this. Walk more. Drive less. Love Detroit.
I will also continue to share my music this season in open and joyful ways. Thank you for your support in doing this. I have some new additions to my Spring schedule, including the Ann Arbor Pow Wow this weekend. Come out and enjoy amazing Native music, dancing, and frybread right here in Treetown. Peace to you and your families. Thank you for keeping the dream alive in your daily life.
Love,
Joe
The Virtual Tea House website became 'word-ripe' when, over a cup of jasmine green, I realized that the web has an expanding part to play in the communal aspects of spiritual growth.
One of my favorite hats, among several is: initiated firekeeper in the Sacred Fire Community. Hosting a monthly community fire circle, I'm being taught that the simple act of sitting around a fire with the intent of holding open-hearted space makes for some soulful community!
With a master's degree in religion, my career spans 20 years in end of life care and I currently work in the field of child abuse intervention and advocacy.
Here in beautiful Central Oregon, my spiritual homes of the high desert and the mountains are both in proximity. And for good measure, four hours away is Grandmother Ocean and the stunning Oregon Coast.
I'm making decent progress on the goal set by my mother early on: she taught us that the goal of humanity should be to become ever-more eccentric, i.e. more fully human.
Entering the 'forest-dweller' phase of life, I am honored to host the Virtual Tea House for all who wish to explore how our lives are enriched and made new a thousand times each day by the spirituality we embody. Exploring this engagement together is the purpose of the Virtual Tea House.
Welcome! Let's have a cup of virtual tea together and share what brings us joy, what we are being taught by life, how we are leaning into the Big Questions posed to us each day in sometimes 'distressing disguises'.