Let us pray and do beautiful things!
Sometimes I watch Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzaléz on Democracy Now! (YouTube) because they are stellar journalists, with a team of international correspondents who courageously provide in-depth accounts of what is happening in the world. In following the current events of Maui/Lahaina, Hawaii I became more informed and encouraged to join a reliable fundraising campaign for those living through unbelievable devastation. But I kept on watching the world news reports that one after another depicted more horrific situations. My concern now placed me right in the middle of the storm – wanting to protect and hold everybody, and I was so upset not just about Lahaina, but about the people in Rankin County, Mississippi and all over this country who are brutalized, tortured and terrorized by the police – just because we are Black… what about THOSE folks; or the precious folks in the Congo whose fate it is to mine the toxic cobalt mineral used to manufacture electric cars, smartphones, computers and rechargeable batteries; what about Japan and the nuclear pollution of the seas. I wanted to hug the world but my arms were just not big enough. I forgot that it is essential that I PRAY after watching the news, and especially real news like Democracy Now! It is essential for my well-being to stop and remember that God is way smarter than I am… and then make notes of how or if I can contribute something good to the matter at hand. But I DIDN’T stop to pray; I was a sad mess with no elder wisdom about me. I began to answer emails hoping to somehow get past my feelings of despair. Then, came a message through my contact page from a new subscriber that said, “Thanks for what you do.” “Thanks for what you do.” Those five words provided a halt from the news of the day. I remembered what was mine to do and cried for a while. Then I meditated and felt God’s Love all around me, and prepared to rest. The next morning I arose in gratitude with these words from ‘Heavenly Body’ in my thought:
“Play the part I came to play. ‘Spread some love along the way.”
Here’s to people like you and me who love the world and who love to do beautiful things.
May we remember that any good we can do matters. Any way we can serve others matters.
Any song of love we can share to encourage others to share, matters.
Be blessed, be beautiful, bring your best, and stay tuned to the frequency of Joy as much as possible!
Triumphantly yours,
Rickie
Listen to ‘Heavenly Body’
(Sometimes the world can be a very sad place. This song reminds us that we are here to make the world better and we do that by shining God’s light everywhere we go.)
‘Heavenly Body’ Lyrics:
Heavenly body flesh this time, born to love and born to shine
Heavenly Spirit flesh as me, born to love born to be free
Born to fly, born to feel – born to cry and born to heal
Born to fly, born to feel – born to cry and born to heal
Heavenly body on the screen – what I desire in this scene is
To play the part I came to play and spread some love along the way
‘Cause I’m born to fly, born to share – born to cry and born to care
Born to fly, born to share – born to cry and born to care
Soul Searching, soul searching – I know what made the stars and moon above me
Is deep within my soul and really loves me – and really loves you…
Heavenly bodies flesh this time, you better love, you better shine
Heavenly Spirit flesh as we – born to love born to be free
Born to love, born to be free – born to love, born to be free
Amen. Amen, Amen, Amen
Soul searching (searching in my soul) Soul searching…
Credits:
Used with permission of LoveTrust Media
From: Let My Soul Surrender (CD/Book) (c) 2011 All rights reserved
Heavenly Body: Written by Rickie Byars and Michael B. Beckwith
Rickie Byars vocals/Electric Piano
Ricky Rouse – Guitar
Georgia Anne Muldrow – Supporting vocals
Sekou Bunch – Bass
James Gadson – Drums