THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

May the inner peace in us transform into justice around us.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

May we as a nation work to ensure law and order allow, not block, the flow of social progress

SONG OF THE WEEK

There's no way we'll reach our greatest heights

Unless we heed the call

Me for you, you for me

There's no chance of world salvation

Less the conversation's peace

These are a few of the lyrics from this week's song of the week. May we all be a part of the conversation of peace in this world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt8uLIC9_yk

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

As the song says, let there be peace on earth and let it begin with us.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Isn't it time these were facts?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

If justice is simple, why do we make it complicated

WORK FOR JUSTICE

Share a story of a time in your life when you worked for justice

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

It does not matter what the groups are, when we stand together as one human family we win.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Can justice be compassionate?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

May we work towards creating a world where all people and their property are safe

Song of the Week

This week's song of the week is Glory. It is a collaborative track by John Legend along with rapper Common from the soundtrack of the 2014 film Selma.The song contains powerful and meaningful lyrics, such as, “Freedom is like religion to us, justice is juxtaposition in us.”

https://youtu.be/HUZOKvYcx_o

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Every day that justice is delayed is another day that justice is denied

CONTEMPLATION, SOCIAL ACTION AND JUSTICE

As I have listened to people talk about who their Presidential candidates are and why, I have come to realize that we live in a world where technology is allowing for the spread of information which has the potential to dismantle the structure of inherited power. It is clear that how things are has failed to solve society’s problems. We see grassroots organizations of all kinds forming again seeking to bring about change or to maintain the status quo. What I have come to realize is that it is easier to speak up and out when one has some form of privileged status in one’s life. How do we help those who have been made to feel completely helpless by these systems to feel their needs are being heard as well? How do we give voice to those who feel completely voiceless and have forgotten how to hope, dream, and are just moving through life waiting to die.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Are you part of the struggle?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Are you outraged at all injustice or just those which affect you?

FILMS ABOUT JUSTICE

What is your favorite film that inspires you to work for justice?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

How different would our world be if this were our daily resolve?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

There is nothing just about injustice

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

May we speak truth in love

INHUMANITY AND INJUSTICE CONTINUED

Over the last week, I have been listening to what others say as a way of avoiding responsibility for the injustice and inhumanity in the world. One thing I have heard people do is to call it something else. Rather than name the injustice behind what is happening in a situation, people will search for alternate explanations as to why a situation exists. I have heard people argue it is actually better this way or that the oppressed group actually prefers it this way. I have heard people mask their inhumanity behind humor or claims of innocence, saying I didn’t mean it. There is this belief that by saying that, that it wipes away the injustice and inhumanity of what is said or done. I have heard other say that the reason bad things happen to people is that they are just bad people. Whether intentional or not, each of these patterns and ways of thinking contributes to the inhumanity and injustice in the world.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Abusers pray for our silence. May we always remember to break the silence and speak out against all forms of abuse, systemic and personal

DO WE DO JUSTICE?

Every once in a while someone asks me a question that makes me stop and think. The question asked of me was whether or not Inspiritual is a social justice organization. I have always said that Inspiritual is a space for spiritual evolution and transformation, but I had never thought about whether we are a social justice organization. So this question has had me in a state of reflection all week. Rather than share my response with the person who asked it, I thought I would make that the focus of my blog for this week.

As I thought about this question, I had to begin by defining what social justice meant to me and to Inspiritual.

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SONG OF THE WEEK

This song spoke to me this morning as a reminder that the next generation is watching how we work for peace and justice in our lives. https://youtu.be/xKGjEvoEOUY

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

If you want peace, work for justice.
— Pope Paul VI (1897-1978)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

May we each work to insure that human rights are not suppressed for any member of humanity.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Remember this, in all circumstances love and well being must prevail.

HOW DO YOU DECIDE?

How do you decide what organizations or causes you will give your time, energy, and money too?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Stand up for what you believe.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Do your best to bring peace and justice into the world.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Are you practicing restorative justice?  Do you know about it? Want to learn more about it?

INHUMANITY AND INJUSTICE CONTINUED

Since I started this personal reflection justice, why we engage and why we don’t, I have come to realize there are no easy answers. One of the things I have come to realize is that in some respects we do not even realize that we are being inhumane. Several years ago, I was at a meeting and overheard two philosophers talking about slavery. One philosopher said that the perfect form of slavery was when one enjoyed being a slave. The other philosopher disagreed and said that the perfect form of slavery was when you no longer realized that you were even enslaved. The ironic part is that when we think of the word slavery we do not think of ourselves, but in some respect, each of us is enslaved in a system that trains us to be inhumane, conditions us throughout our lives to contribute to the inhumanity of others. Whether one is part of a dominant or subordinate group in our culture, the enslavement exists and often times we are not even aware of our role in the system or of the system itself.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Is this why we read mystery novels?

Song of the Week

When I think of songs about justice, my memory floats back to songs I sang growing up like this one by Pete Seeger https://youtu.be/Rl-yszPdRTk

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

May we remember to create justice for the poor, but also for all those who experience other forms of inequality

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Significant change does not happen over night, it happens one little change at a time. It just seems like it happens over night. So today work on a small change.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Looking for a career?. Commit yourself to the struggle for equal rights

Thought for the day

May we continue to grow in our commitment to social justice

I am not a doormat

What are the various banners you have carried in your lifetime. Post a picture of a slogan you've worn on buttons, t-shirts, a sign you've carried, or a bumper stickers on your car. 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Stop the injustice!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Are you engaged in the world in a way that makes you care

INHUMANITY AND INJUSTICE

When I was in seminary, I took a course on advocacy and organizing. One of the questions we were asked to think about was what we felt was the most pressing social issue in contemporary society. Then and now, it is hard for me to pick just one, as there are so many issues that seem important for different reasons.  I could talk about the global exploitation of people in developing countries or the trafficking of women as sexual slaves and prostitutes or violence against women or poverty or hate crimes or systemic injustice.  My list of issues has grown over the last over the last 10 years. Trying to pick one over the other makes me feel as if I am saying one issue is more pressing than the other, as if I am trying to prioritize them.  This is hard for me to do because I think they are all important for different reasons and to different groups of people.  At the root of all these issues is a common thread which contributed to their existence.  Ultimately, I have come to realize that the most pressing social issue in contemporary society is our inhumanity for and towards each other.

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One Spirit Many Voices

The April 2016 issue of One Spirit, Many Voices is now available for download at http://inspiritual.biz/newsletters/

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Let us work together to bring healing and justice to the world.