My daughter Christina gave birth to Rilynn Elizabeth on Jan. 19, 2010 at 8:01 pm. I was blessed to be a present at the delivery. I wondered when and how the soul entered the body. Then I found myself wondering whether she was a Capricorn or Aquarius, as the sign changed on that date. Immediately after that I chided myself for already putting limits on her. She is a great and powerful spiritual being, as Dannion Brinkley would say, and I’m wondering what her sign is… She has freedom to choose her expression at any time, as do we all. No physical or mental box can keep our light hidden without our permission. Jesus said, “Don’t keep your light under a bushel…. Let it shine before men.”

 

Many patterns that we live with are so firmly entrenched in our habits and minds that it will take a lot of groups consciously changing the patterns for them. I’ve lived through many. Women and men had different kinds of jobs they could hold, and now jobs are assigned based on ability. Words like “manifestation” and "reincarnation" weren’t in the every day vernacular. Physics wasn’t quantum. It didn’t take into consideration the effect that the thinker had upon the data. Now we are growing and understanding that our thoughts play a huge part in how our lives are lived.

 

My prayer for my granddaughter is that by the time she reaches the age of reason, people will look at her and not see just a body, or even a body and a mind, but a body, mind, and perfect holy spirit who has come to this earth to learn how spirit might function in this dense earth medium.  I will consciously continue to keep my thoughts about her aligned, and will also do that for you, and me.

 

Happy Birthday Dr. King wherever you are. This is to let you know that Kaua’i will be celebrating all that you stand for. 

 

Here’s the schedule of our MLK Jr. Day Celebration of Peace being held on Jan. 18^th.  Kauai has wonderful diversity as will be demonstrated from our line up of people sharing.

 

Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration of Peace

 

“For we must come to see that peace is not merely the absence of some negative force, it is the presence of a positive force. True peace is not merely the absence of tension, but it is the presence of justice and brotherhood.”  Martin Luther King Jr.  1961

 

“All humanity is involved in a simple process, and all men are brothers. To the degree that I harm my brother, no matter what he is doing to me, to that extent I am harming myself.” 1958

 

Every year Kauai’s brothers and sisters, young and old come together, from the north, south, east and west, to remember Dr. King’s vision, and to celebrate love, joy, hope and peace by dancing, speaking, singing, crafting, and listening. We gather at the Kukui Grove Center Food Court. This year we will be adding “Chalk for Peace” designs. Chalk for Peace is an international organization that displays chalked peace designs from all over the world. (www.chalk4peace.org) We would like to enter one from Kauai. Collections will be taken for the food bank, and there will be an opportunity for people to create their own “perfume” from essential oils known to have calming effects. For more information call Annaleah Atkinson at 652-7743

 

 

10:45      Blu Dux Tunes and  stories

 

11:00      Welcome by Annaleah Atkinson of the Interfaith Roundtable of Kaua’i

              Introduction of the Celebration by Ron Wiley

              Blessing by Aunty Hanaka’ulani Montgomery

             

11:10      Love Tribe: Drumming for Peace

11.25           Amala Seyon: Positive Discipline for Parents

Chanting prayers from the Hindu community

 

11:30      Jewish Community Peace Song - Dale Rosenfeld

11:35      Dr. Lisa Raphael; Experiences with Dr. King.

11:35

11:40      Gloria Purter: African Heritage Cultural Ctr. of Kauai

 

11:45      Mark Jeffers will present Peace Award

11:55      Liz Hahn “Blessed is the Spot”  Baha’i Prayer

12:00      Reading from MLK Jr. by Michael Govinda

 

12:10      Lihue Tongan Choir

12:20      Pastor Jedidiah Blake from the Gospel Harvest Baptist Church

 

12:25      Voice Weavers Women’s Chorus

 

12:40      Universal Dances of Peace/Sharon Gonsalves

 

12:45      Dr. Laurette Schaller, Calming Touch Technique  

 

12:50      Kapa’a HS Mediation Team

1:00       Omashar sings an original uplifting song

1:05       GG Shanley, flautist, “Amazing Grace”

1:10       Russel Da Rooster Crowing for Peace Contest

1:20       Keiki Parade: Aloha Peace Project, music by Mark James and Teresa

1:30       Group Song “Let There Be Peace on Earth” by Omashar with

              hula by Judy Fields

 

When the world understands that what one person does affects everyone else, we may finally become the loving expressions of spirit that we can be. The most  Reverend Archbishop Desmond Tutu from South Africa speaks of this quality in the book “Believe”  published by Blue Mountain Arts. In the introduction he states, “In my culture and  tradition the highest praise that can be given to someone is, ‘Yu, u nobuntu,’ an acknowledgment that he or she has this wonderful quality: ‘ubuntu’.” They consider it the essence of being a human being.

 

The first part of the definition of “ubuntu” is that the person will be “friendly, hospitable, generous, gentle, caring and compassionate….someone who will  use his or her strengths on behalf of others….and not take advantage of anyone .” That is, they live the “Golden Rule” as most of us were taught to do.

 

Living this way leads to the expression of “the second part of the definition, ‘large-heartedness'. They share their worth. In doing so my humanity is recognized and becomes inextricable bound to theirs.”

 

It was ubuntu that enabled the South Africans to forgive each other the atrocities that occurred during the times of apartheid. Not forgiving would diminish a person as well as the perpetrator, and lead to real victimhood. By forgiving, one demonstrated that he/she was strong, whole, loving, and had ubuntu. Ubuntu  raises both sides up.  Luckily for the human race, it appears to be contagious! As more people live ubuntu, it inspires others to also do so.

 

As we move toward Martin Luther King Jr. Day, may we also move toward ubuntu, the essence of Dr. Kings’s philosophy.

 

It happened again yesterday, thank goodness. I had an unbelievable amount of work and deadlines to do for my school job and for the Interfaith Roundtable of Kauai. IRK, as we fondly call ourselves is an organization whose mission statement is, ”The Interfaith Roundtable of Kauai exists as a forum to share information and concerns, to promote respect and understanding, and to build harmony in our shared community of Kauai.”

 

Each year we put on a Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day of Peace, at our local mall. It’s always the third Monday in January, but it’s a difficult time to organize an event… during the holidaze. We tried organizing it in the fall, but then folks would forget about it. Anyway. I was feeling frustrated, so I did as I usually do, I just stopped. I tuned in for guidance.  In my mind I had a list of things to do, all of which seemed to want my attention immediately. The truth is, that there is an order that is the most efficient. I don’t know what it is, but the Holy Spirit does.

 

I’ve learned that certain things done first lead to other things being done easier. For example, I couldn’t find my last meeting notes to write the minutes for IRK. So after a brief search, I went on to do something else. Later I found the notes while doing another task. Breaking away from all of the stress also leads me to remember how greatly blessed I am to be part of such a wonderful organization that sees different religions as different expressions of Spirit, and something to be cherished rather than feared.

 

It’s the same for my teaching job. It’s a great honor to be placed in the lives of beautiful young souls, open to love and learning. I’m just so grateful that Holy Spirit helps me keep my eye on the true target….peace and love