Theme/Mantra: “Be good to the people you love and love everybody alive”
Reading:
from I sing the Body Electric by Walt Whitman
I have perceiv’d that to be with those I like is enough,
To stop in company with the rest at evening is enough,
To be surrounded by beautiful, curious, breathing, laughing flesh is enough,
To pass among them or touch any one, or rest my arm ever so lightly round his or her neck for a moment, what is this then?
I do not ask any more delight, I swim in it as in a sea.
There is something in staying close to men and women and looking on them, and in the contact and odor of them, that pleases the soul well,
All things please the soul, but these please the soul well.
Meditation:
Today in our time of meditation, I invite you to find a comfortable place.
Then reflect on the beauty of the human body. How if functions. What it can do. The varieties of styles and gifts. And hone in particularly on the ways in which we are connected through our bodies- that is- how we share so much with all other human beings because we are human. How does our shared humanity change your perception in the world?
Physical Movement:
Cat and Dog Stretch
Kneel in a “table position” where your knees are under your hips and your arms are beneath your shoulders.
Exhale and drop your head and tailbone, while arching your back up.
Exhale further and pull your navel up toward your spine.
Now inhale and raise your head and tailbone, letting your abdomen drop toward the floor.
Curve your back in a swayback position.
Look up at the ceiling.
Alternate between cat and dog several times, exaggerating the stretches as you inhale and exhale deeply.
Reflection:
When I first heard the lyrics of this song by Carsie, “Jesus Christ was a dangerous man” I was gripped. “MLK Jr. was a dangerous man.” And her premise is that they were dangerous because they challenged people to love. I think she is right. To love is a threat. To love more. To show love, live love- choose love. Over power or prestige, or self praise. Is always dangerous.
In many ways life isn’t quite that simple- to just Be good to the people we love, and to love everyone alive.
But could it be?
Could we at least try? Start out at this point? Attempt to start each conversation, each thought of another, every interaction or passing by one another? So, be good to the people we love. And love everybody alive. So be it.
Song: Be Good by Carsie Blanton
Lyrics:
Jesus Christ was a handsome man
He had nothin to hide
He said, "Give this bread to the hungry
Bring the homeless inside"
Jesus Christ was a dangerous man
That's the way that he died
Sayin', "Be good to the people you love
And love everybody alive"
[Chorus]
Be good to the people
Be good to the people
Be good to the people you love
And love everybody alivе
[Verse 2]
Dr. King was a preacher
He had God on his sidе
He said, "All God's children are brothers
Don't cast your brother aside"
Dr. King was a dangerous man
That's the way that he died
He said, "Be good to the people you love
And love everybody alive"
Until Tomorrow- Peace