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The Spiritual Lineage of Martin Luther King, Jr.

You and I live in a time where we have set aside one day  to contemplate a man’s life and teachings who brought forth a movement of cultural change through non-violence in our country. Today is that day. As I jumped out of bed this morning thinking about Dr. King, right along side his image was that of his mentor/friend Gandhi. This is the first time I saw the two coupled in my mind. I typically see King as an inspirational road warrior behind a pulpit resonating solid words of Truth surrounded by thousands. This is the first time I saw him in my mind with his mentor. It got me thinking about his spiritual lineage and about my own. Each one of us has our own unique spiritual lineage made up of teachers who walked the path before us making the way possible and much easier for us to take the next step. These past three weeks I have been reading Yogananda’s and Gangaji’s work. In both cases; these two Eastern...

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Marianne Williamson Speaks of Martin Luther King — Rare Footage

January and February are precious months for me. Why? Because I love as a people we come together over much that is good. First, the New Year. Most of us invest thoughtful reflective time upon who we’ve been and who we plan on becoming. We stop, celebrate with people we love and step into a new beginning. Then in February we celebrate Valentine’s Day, stopping to remind people they have admirers and are loved. Nestled between the two is Martin Luther King’s birthday. My Facebook page greets me with quote after quote of speeches King gave. I ponder the power of one life, leadership, and standing on the right side of an issue. I am awed at how he galvanized a moment in history that shifted how we behave together as a culture. This year I spent Martin Luther King’s birthday in my new Los Angeles community attending a music event fundraiser #RAJ14 Rising. Monday evening I drove to Santa Monica with holiday traffic patterns; meaning, I could actually...

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I Choose to be Maladjusted

Over the years I have loved Martin Luther King, Jr for his commitment to living heaven on earth and I’ve disliked him for his alleged philandering. When I learned it was a mother who said to him in the grocery story “I hope someday our children can play together and not be judged by the color of their skin but instead by their character,” I was angry he didn’t credit her for these heart felt words.  Since becoming a minister I realize talks are inspired in large part by our experience with others, so I softened a bit.  After I had the experience of being cheated on, I couldn’t imagine a man who touted “morality” harming his wife this way.  I still don’t understand this one, and I’ve learned it isn’t my business to. There are periods over the past four decades I have also been deeply inspired by his words and work.  Core changing inspiration which has led me to see the Gospels in a social light.  I...

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Girl Scouts Take the Stand of Inclusion

While on my morning walk listening to Beth and Friends, KEZ 99.9 fm, on my iHeart Radio app, disc jockey Beth played a portion of the YouTube video, below.  It is a talk given by a 14 year old Girl Scout advocating a boycott of Girl Scout Cookies because they allow transgendered individuals in the troops.  Beth’s response was something along the lines of “I will buy MORE cookies this year because I want to support a compassionate organization.”  I agree with her.  It would great for hate toward others unlike us to end in our generation. Listening with an open heart to the full YouTube video I remember how sheltered and naive I was at her age.  And, I applaud this young woman for having her voice heard and making an argument utilizing the written tenants of the Scouts.  Bravo.  However, the lack of understanding and compassion spoke louder than her argument.  The bigger question, I believe, is not how do we extricate individuals who are different than...

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