ARCHIVES 2023
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 Juneteenth, June 19 - also known as Emancipation Day, symbolizes the end of slavery and commemorates the reading of President Abraham Lincoln's General Order #3 on June 19th, 1865, which announced the freeing of slaves. It became an official national holiday in 2021 when President Biden signed the measure into law. On hand for the signing was 94-year-old Opal Lee, who advocated for the June 19 holiday most of her life.
'You must never, ever give out. We must keep the faith because we are one people. We are brothers and sisters. We all live in the same house: the American house." - John Lewis, American congressman, civil rights activist Affirmative prayer: Infinite Presence, today I honor the sacred right of freedom for all people. I bring light to my community and the world by illuminating my own consciousness, healing any trace of prejudice that has kept me small. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.
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 Father's Day - June 18
The fathers of the U.S. have a woman, Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, to thank for Father’s Day. In 1910, Sonora worked hard to establish an equivalent to Mother’s Day for dads. She went to churches, the YMCA, shopkeepers, and government officials to drum up support for her idea, and she succeeded. Washington State celebrated the nation’s first statewide Father’s Day on June 19, 1910. It became a national holiday in 1972. “It is befitting that Father’s Day falls near Summer Solstice. One meaning of ‘father’ is ‘to give rise to.’ Yes, of course. Our fathers have given rise to life, to our life. And the sun, every morning, gives rise to a new day.” – Scott Awbrey Affirmative prayer: Today, I honor the life-generating, protective essence that is present in our fathers and our father-figures. I give thanks for the goodness, the intelligence, and the love that inspires me to rise up again and again. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  Leave it to the animal kingdom to transform a barren landscape devoid of human activity into a wildlife haven. The more than 6,100 species in the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea have made their homes in the space between the two countries. Among the DMZ's residents: Mountain goats, otters, golden eagles, and deer. The area has been called an "accidental paradise."
“As one looks across the barren stretches of the pack, it is sometimes difficult to realize what teeming life exists immediately beneath its surface.” - Robert Falcon Scott, British Royal Navy officer and explorer Affirmative prayer: Today, I remember that my entire life is present beneath the surface of my outward living. My inner life is rich and complete with God qualities, and I give thanks for the spiritual mechanics that brings beauty, love, and joy to my experiences. And so it is. Amen.  Belle Irvin-Partridge (pictured farthest right) regaled her children for years with stories about her time in the Women’s Army Corps during World War II. But she left an important detail out: she was an integral member of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-women, predominantly Black unit. The women worked tirelessly to sort and send mail to US service members. Belle’s daughter, Brenda, discovered her mom’s crucial role when she found an old photograph of her mom’s battalion.
“The simple act of caring is heroic.” – Edward Albert, American actor Affirmative prayer: Infinite Presence, I give thanks for the heroes in my world. The brave and humble souls who give of themselves, risk much, and make my life better. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  Lloyd Devereux Richards spent 14 years writing a crime thriller entitled “Stone Maidens.” But when Lloyd finally published his masterwork in 2012, there was little response from readers or critics. It sat for years, unnoticed, in Amazon’s Kindle store. That is, until his daughter, Marguerite, promoted the book on TikTok. Her video got almost 50 million views and Stone Maidens vaulted to a best seller.
“Patience is hope in action. It waits for the saving help of God without giving up, giving in, or going away.” – Thomas Keating, Open Mind, Open Heart Affirmative prayer: Today, I employ the spiritual skills of confidence, ingenuity, and patience. My cause is championed by my belief, and I give thanks to know that Spirit is poised, ready to meet my desire with triumph. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  Loving Day
June 12 is Loving Day, marking the day when the U.S. Supreme Court, in 1967, unanimously ruled in favor of Mildred and Richard Loving, making states’ laws against interracial marriage unconstitutional. "Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, and penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope." – Maya Angelou Affirmative prayer: Infinite Presence, today I celebrate the absolute love that transcends artificial walls of separation. I find and heal the barriers within me that hinder the full expression of such vibrancy. I honor this love in others, affirming that this pure way of being is the love-energy to heal and save the world. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  Malik Afegbua, a Nigerian visual artist, is being praised for his joyous depictions of seniors living their most fabulous lives. Titled "The Elders Series," the images make up a virtual fashion show that challenges stereotypes about aging. They also put African faces, which are often sidelined in mainstream fashion, front and center.
“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you really are.” – Carl Jung Affirmative prayer: I give thanks for the gifts of growing older. Reflective insights, confidence, and calm bring authenticity and gladness to my experience. My life is precious, anchored in faith and kindness, and connected to others. Today, I commit to being a beneficial presence. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  Indigenous activist Nemonte Nenquimo is defending the Amazon rainforest against the Ecuadorian government that granted concessions to big oil companies. She’s using ancestral knowledge and digital technologies to build a legal case against the government. “We need to be rebellious and creative, kind and gentle, and share a liberating truth: that nature is alive.”
“Gaze at the beauty of earth’s greenings. Now, think. What delight God gives to us with all these things. All nature is at the disposal of humankind. We are to work with it. For without we cannot survive.” – St. Hildegard of Bingen Affirmative prayer: Infinite Presence, thank you for the greening of our sacred home and our lives. I am a guardian of the homeland that plays host to our livingness. I walk lightly, love deeply, and look after our hallowed ground. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  Geraldine Gimblet of Lakeland, Florida, spent her life savings to pay for her daughter's breast cancer treatment. Thankfully, her daughter completed the treatment and was declared cancer-free. Then, just days later, Geraldine had another victory: she won $2 million from the Florida Lottery.
“The Universe operates through dynamic exchange. Giving and receiving are different aspects of the flow of energy in the Universe. In our willingness to give that which we seek, we keep abundance circulating in our lives.” – Deepak Chopra, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success Affirmative prayer: Thank you, Infinite Presence, for the countless blessings of my life. I am full-square in the Divine flow of abundance, giving and receiving. I am a conduit for goodness. Thank you, God, forever. Amen.  The Columbus Washboard Company in Logan, Ohio is the last old-timey washboard manufacturer in the country. Founded in 1895, the company still makes 11,000 washboards annually, some still used for laundry; others used to make music.
“The greatest beauty you could clothe yourself with is the golden gem of staying-power. That which has the capacity to endure, persevere, and stay ever faithful to the soul.” - Christine Evangelou, Diamonds Through the Dark Affirmative prayer: In the spirit of wholeness, I give thanks for the origin and usefulness of my life. I have come into being by sacred invitation, answering the call to be an instrument of Spirit’s givingness. I let God be God in all that I do. Thank you, Infinite Presence, forever. Amen. |