Showing posts with label Martin Luther King Jr. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Martin Luther King Jr. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS – 358



+ We are called to create and enjoy a realm of compassion, peace, justice and sustainable abundance for all.

+ Martin Luther King, Jr. on Justice and Compassion:
·         Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
·         A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.
·         Any religion which professes to be concerned about the souls of men and women and is not concerned about the social and economic conditions that can scar the soul, is a spiritually moribund religion only waiting for the day to be buried.
·         Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
·         I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.
·         I will mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one; not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
·         Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice. This echoes: I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways; I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; I can divine it by conscience. And from what I see I am sure it bends towards justice. -– Theodore Parker

+ Martin Luther King, Jr. often said: “The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.” He got that line from a 19th century Unitarian minister, abolitionist, transcendentalist, Theodore Parker. Parker was right and King was right. Justice is definitely God’s way and it is our way as we assume our rightful role as a heavenly being.

In stillness we can’t help but hear the cries of the poor, the alienated, the confused and the oppressed. Sooner or later we know we must act, act on their behalf, act for ourselves, for all. For we are all poor, alienated, confused, oppressed as long as any one of us is. We must always identify with the marginalized. Solidarity.

Those of us who have long benefitted from white privilege must not be content until the day comes when the color of our skin really does not matter. We have made progress but we still have a long way to go.

Where justice is denied, Love is denied. We have put up barriers to keep out God, to keep out heaven, to keep out wholeness and truth and beauty. We must confess this regularly and seek to tear down those barriers. We must find ways, all kinds of ways, to create a society where no one is denied access to the abundance God provides.

This requires plenty of compassion and creativity. We get this from God when we pray. Prayer changes things. It’s not magic. Prayer is an attitude adjustment. God changes us and makes us become agents of change. We simply don’t accept an earth where justice is denied. We can’t. We won’t.

Each of us must choose among all of the causes demanding our attention and action. Prayer leads us to a good fit, where our unique gifts can make a difference. Believe. The more we pray for justice, the more we can make a big difference. Yes, we hear the cries. Our prayerful response leads to smiles and laughter and equality. The heavenly feast is intended for everyone. Let no one be denied.

The celebration is so much better when no one is denied. There is so much variety on this planet, so much beauty. Justice means we all can enjoy what everyone is offering. The barriers we have built have prevented a lot of joy from circulating freely. This is not God’s will. Tear down those barriers. Let Justice flow.


+ I would love it if you offered a guest post.  And, I have work to do on the Abundancetrek Peace page. Maybe you can help.  Send an email with the subject “Peace” or “Heavenly Attributes” or “Guest Post” to John@abundancetrek.com.

SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS – 355


+ We are called to create and enjoy a realm of compassion, peace, justice and sustainable abundance for all.

+
He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
-- Micah 6:8

+ Any religion which professes to be concerned about the souls of men and women and is not concerned about the social and economic conditions that can scar the soul, is a spiritually moribund religion only waiting for the day to be buried.
-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

+ This is the first post on the heavenly attribute of Justice but it really isn’t because we have seen that justice is absolutely necessary for a real peace and we have explored the heavenly attribute of Peace. Making these kind of connections are such an important part of the quest for heavenly abundance. Justice is closely connected to the spiritual practice of Humility and Devotion. We are called to devote ourselves humbly to authentic peacemaking as we walk closely with God and as we embrace a peacemaking, justice-oriented, religion. How do you connect your religion with your spirituality? Do you see the connection? It really is important. And, if your religion is not devoted to seriously addressing the social and economic conditions we face, then you definitely need to challenge and change it.      

+ Spirituality & Practice offers plenty of plenty of resources on the practice of Justice and plenty of resources on the practice of Peace and plenty of resources on the practice of Connections. Also S&P provides a 12s Gallery of Memes on Justice, a 12s Gallery of Memes on Peace and a 12s Gallery on Connections.

+ I would love it if you offered a guest post.  And, I have work to do on the Abundancetrek Peace page. Maybe you can help.  Send an email with the subject “Peace” or “Heavenly Attributes” or “Guest Post” to John@abundancetrek.com.

Monday, August 1, 2016

SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS – 217

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF HEAVENLINESS

+
He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
-- Micah 6:8 NRSV

+ Mysticism without devotion is like uncooked food, it can never be assimilated.
— Hazrat Inayat Khan in The Inner Life
This is one of the quotes found in the Spirituality & Practice guide to the practice of Devotion.

+ When the passion of the mystic for God is married to the passion of the activist for justice, a new fire is born.
-- Andrew Harvey

+ Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.
-- Martin Luther King, Jr. often included this great statement of faith which he discovered in a sermon by Theodore Parker who was the rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Boston in the 19th century.

+ Justice is one of the nine heavenly attributes which we will be exploring soon.  Devotion is one of the 12 practices we have already explored but we can always come back to it and explore it some more.  In order to be faithful to God and to all of creation we need to be devoted to compassion, peace, justice and sustainable abundance with our all of our mind, heart, body and soul day after day, breath after breath.  Let us keep in mind that powerful mystical experience of Thomas Merton on the streets of Louisville which made him realize like never before that a spiritual life must include an unceasing devotion to justice for all.  See SE214.


+ Spirituality & Practice emphasizes the practices of Love & Compassion:

+ I would love it if you offered a guest post on this practice or any practice.  And, I have work to do on my Heavenlinesspage.  Maybe you can help.  Send an email with the subject “Heavenliness” or “Guest Post” to John@abundancetrek.com.

+ You can always find a link to any of the Spiritual Explorations posts by going to http://abundancetrek.com/sepostsaccess.html