We are a nation of laws and yet those laws and noble sentiments do not guarantee that everyone is given the same equal opportunities, protection, or justice under the law. I once heard that we should not judge a country by how many wealthy people it has, but by how many poor it has. On that same note, we should not judge a country by how many freedoms they have on the books, but instead by how many people are still not allowed to enjoy those basic freedoms. We should not judge a country by how many Nobel Laureates or Rhodes Scholars they have but by how many children they allow to go uneducated, unemployed, exploited, abused, or incarcerated because of the lack of education, protection, and nurturing. Continue to part 2.
I’m Barbara Talley, the poet who speaks and inspires. To find out more about me check out: What Does Barbara Do? or visit my website.
Whatever invokes your higher nature, honesty, kindness, love, or generosity is light. The light represents happiness, positive energy, virtuous qualities, noble deeds, faith and hope. Whatever increases your energy, makes you more virtuous, gives you certitude and hope, and makes you happy and hopeful is light. Conversely, whatever makes you doubtful, angry, fearful, drained, or want to give up, is nothing but the darkness. In those instances, all you need to do is turn toward the light. Think about the light, focus on the light, and with God’s help,BE THE LIGHT!
Be A Well Wisher of Others
As with physical sight, the more light there is, the more you see. The more you see, the more you believe. The more you believe, the more you manifest. It is within the light that our powers strengthen, that our energy increases, that our power of perception is heightened, and our creativity unfolds. One way to stay in the light is to be well-wishers of others.
Darkness Comes in Many Forms
But staying in the light can be a challenge for we are surrounded by darkness. Darkness, just like light, comes in many forms, greed, competitiveness, resentment, envy, despondency and selfishness. Whatever entices you to lie, cheat, doubt, fear, be mean, or to hate is just darkness. The eyes cannot see clearly in darkness. The heart cannot receive in darkness. The ears cannot hear in darkness, for we were created to see, hear, and feel and our natural senses are stunted in darkness.
When we cannot see we cannot move with certitude and assurance. We are bound, afraid, and helpless. But when we spot a ray of light, our spirit is refreshed, hopeful again, and joyful. The possibility to get a show on the Oprah Winfrey Network was a ray of light and hope. At first I hesitated because many other competition type shows seemed to bring out the worst in people. My life mission is to stay in the light and help as many people as I can to do the same. One of my sons even questioned my understanding of “competition” when I told him I had voted for several other “competitors”.
Compete Against Yourself and Not Others
Life is a constant test, but mostly within our beings. You see, I choose to believe that I am only competing against myself, against my very best. Each one of the other contestants is putting forth their ideas and dreams and hoping to win too. I can genuinely appreciate them and wish them well and still be in the same game.
I can’t resent their success and expect to attract blessings and light to myself. So, to make sure that I was not envious or jealous of the front runners, I said a little prayer for each of their success.
Choose What You Will Allow in Your Spiritual Space
In the midst of writing this section on staying in the light, I got a phone call from someone asking if I was staying in the competition in spite of the controversy. First of all, I hadn’t heard of any controversy. Secondly after she shared it with me, it did not make me feel better. I could feel my energy draining and my excitement waning. Just listening to the negativity was pulling me out of the light, so I just stopped it. I’d have to do this often as some would contact me to ask why I got in the game so late or to ask somberly how I was doing. It was as if they were watching the scores and wondered if I understood the odds. But, I’d already decided to get in the game. I’d already defined winning. I had chosen to stay in the light, so I had to make a conscious effort to choose what I would allow into my spiritual space. Once I made the mental shift, I began to see new ideas on how to get more visibility. Later that day I got a few more distressing calls, but I still managed to stay in the light in spite of them. One reason I was able to remain encouraged was because of all the positive people who were showing up to help me. And that’s the topic of our next lesson, asking for help. I’d like to close with these words spoken by Nelson Mandela at his inauguration, but written by Marianne Williamson, in ‘A Return to Love’
‘Excerpt from ‘A Return to Love’
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to manifest the Glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us: it’s in everyone. And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence liberates others.”
Until Next Time, “May God shine a light on the path to your dreams.” Barbara
My second favorite quote has to be about justice. Unfortunately far too few people care enough about the less fortunate to actually do something unless something happens to someone they personally know and care about. In my work, I teach people to understand and respect diversity. Rarely do I conduct a Diversity class that I don’t hear comments against Affirmative Action, even though the purpose of Affirmative Action is not to give any group an unfair advantage. Instead, it is merely a legal remedy to address proven injustices by helping to create a level playing field for all Americans.
Some people think we should be satisfied with the advances we’ve made. But, Dr King’s standard for justice was much higher. It was based on Amos 5:24 in the Bible:
“No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.” In the book, Why We Can’t Wait, he wrote, “It is impossible to create a formula for the future which does not take into account that our society has been doing something special against the Negro for hundreds of years. How then can he be absorbed into the mainstream of American life if we do not do something special for him now?”
Each day, in schools across America, kids end their pledge with the words, “liberty and justice for all.” And yet there still isn’t liberty and justice for all. We must each rise up and do our part. Dr. King said,
“History will have to record that the greatest tragedy …was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.”
To read about my third favorite Dr. King quote on Perspective and Sacrifice, click here.http://wp.me/ppImQ-eq
Barbara Talley is a keynote speaker, author, poet, and trainer who can be reached at www.thepoetspeaks.com. Still looking for a keynote speaker for Black History Month, Women’s History Month, or Administrative Professional Day, phone Barbara at 301-428-4831.
We are a nation of laws and yet those laws and noble sentiments do not guarantee that everyone is given the same equal opportunities, protection, or justice under the law. I once heard that we should not judge a country by how many wealthy people it has, but by how many poor it has. On that same note, we should not judge a country by how many freedoms they have on the books, but instead by how many people are still not allowed to enjoy those basic freedoms. We should not judge a country by how many Nobel Laureates or Rhodes Scholars they have but by how many children they allow to go uneducated, unemployed, exploited, abused, or incarcerated because of the lack of education, protection, and nurturing. Continue to part 2.
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