Time to change what we cannot accept
Washington has had its say. Now it’s time for ours. It’s a slow burn … and we will do it together.
“We don’t have to be victims of history. We can be active participants in shaping the future.”
— Andre Henry
I’m not going to tell you not to be afraid.
I’m not going to say that it’s going to be all right.
It’s scary right now … and it has been for a while. And I don’t know how it’s going to turn out.
And … it’s our turn.
Tomorrow we will celebrate the beginning of the 250th year since the signing of the Declaration of Independence – a document that contains a justification for revolution that has no expiration date:
“That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends [life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness], it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
Our government has never been free of forces destructive to the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness of some of its people … and yet today the it has not only erased any pretense of its constitution to “promote the general welfare” but has turned its guns in a new and vicious way not only on those who are most vulnerable among us but on the majority of the American people.
Angela Davis wrote,
We cannot change what happened in Washington today – neither can we accept it.
Now, it’s our turn.
Revolutions that last do not happen overnight.
Srdja Popovic knows that. He a Serbian political activist renowned for his pivotal role in the nonviolent resistance movement Otpor!, which played a significant part in the overthrow of Serbian President Slobodan Milošević in 2000. And he writes:
“Proper revolutions are not cataclysmic explosions; they are long, controlled burns.”
And every slow burn starts with a spark.
This is an invitation for you to be a part of two sparks … and together to see where the fire burns in us from here.
The first is learning from those who have done this before – and that means going to Srdja and so for the next three months I hope you will join us in reading together his brilliant book, Blueprint for Revolution: How to Use Rice Pudding, Lego Men, and Other Nonviolent Techniques to Galvanize Communities, Overthrow Dictators, or Simply Change the World.
Over the next three months, I invite you to be a part of reading and discussing this book together. I believe it will give you the same hope and practical ideas that it has given me whenever I read it.
You can order the book here – or from any independent bookseller.
Two friends who have worked and studied with Srdja are Andre Henry and the Rev. Lauren Grubaugh Thomas
Andre and Lauren, respectively, will be joining us for the first two of three sessions on the book.
Session I – Tuesday, July 29, 6 pm Pacific/9 pm Eastern – Chapters 1-4 – special guest – Andre Henry.
Session II – Tuesday, August 26, 6 pm Pacific/9 pm Eastern – Chapters 5-8 – special guest – the Rev. Lauren Grubaugh Thomas
Sesssion III – day/time and special guest TBA
Each session will be an hour with our guest in group discussion, followed by an optional 30 minutes open time in the virtual room.
There is no charge for this. A freewill offering will be taken for the special guest at each session.
You can attend one, two or all three – whatever you can do.
Sign up here - https://BP4R.rsvpify.com
Please spread the word and invite your friends.
The second is engaging in a regular practice of communal centering and meditation. There will be three opportunities a week for this, starting next week.
For much of the last year, every Wednesday morning from 7-7:15 am Pacific Time, I have participated in a Loving Kindness meditation hosted by Staci Kennelly and Christine Hartman. Here are the details:
Loving Kindness meditation is a wonderful practice that can bring about inner peace, improve emotional well-being, and foster a deeper connection with others. Feel free to invite any friends or family members who may benefit from this practice. The Zoom link remains the same each week, so you can share it with anyone who might be interested.
This meditation is open to all and is not associated with any specific religion or organization. We aim to create a warm, inclusive space centered around love and acceptance for everyone.
As always, there is no expectation other than creating a space for love and mindfulness. You are welcome to keep your camera off and we encourage that you keep your microphone muted.
I will also be hosting my own 15-minute meditation practices on Mondays at 6 pm Pacific/9 pm Eastern and Saturdays at 6 am Pacific/ 9am Eastern. These will be times of communal silence framed by readings from Find Your Way, the spiritual practices of Thistle Farms – a primary text for my own life.
Click here to order Find Your Way from Thistle Farms.
Sign up to receive the zoom links here.
The idea for all of these is to drop in when you can and sustain for as long as it is useful for you.
One of the things I am learning from great revolutionaries is that effective action always has a foundation of communal learning and reflection. That is our starting point that will build the relationships, knowledge and spiritual practice to take us where we need to go.
Please sign up, spread the word, and know that we are not victims of history. That together, we are the hope for a vision of tomorrow yet undreamed.
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