A Letter from Dr. Kenn:
Let Us Raise Our Consciousness and End This Senseless Violence
Our hearts are broken open once again by senseless violence and unjustifiable use of force against African Americans in the United States. Alton Sterling and Philando Castile are the latest names added to a list that is far too long. Like many, I am tempted to decry a growing epidemic, but in truth this violence is not new. What is new is social media and cell phone cameras that have raised the level of general public awareness of a persistent issue. And let us be clear about what the issue is; this is not a policing issue, nor is it not a gun issue. This is a consciousness issue. Our modern technology is giving us a gift. The gift to see what is really going on. Our social media reveals that which has always been true – that we are all connected. To quote Mother Teresa “we belong to each other.” Through this connection we see the devastating pain and discomfort that comes when we engage in behavior that breaks the bond of that inherent spiritual connection. We must be willing to be uncomfortable and stay uncomfortable. What do we do as we sit in this discomfort once again?
Of course we pray. We pray not to take the pain away, but to enter into it and ask it to speak to us. It is time to come together to feel our collective pain so that we may reestablish our sacred covenant of belonging to one another. Once established in this bond we must act in accordance with it. This not just a call to prayer, this is a call to act. To act in affirmation of our sacred connection with the One Life of all. This is a time to affirm that all life is sacred. That #BlackLivesMatter and to do what is ours to do in helping create a world that works for everyone.
I encourage you to take time to pray and I encourage you to take time to discern what you can do to add to the awakening of humanity to its spiritual magnificence. There are many resources online to better educate ourselves of racism, white privilege and social action. We all can do something, read a book, take a class, join a movement….and we must. There are no quick and easy answers, there is only the measure of our willingness to create change.
If you or anyone in your community needs prayer, please seek out a CSL Center, a Practitioner or contact the CSL World Ministry of Prayer: worldministryofprayer.org
If you would like to learn more about how you and your community can be part of the solution to racism, please contact the diversity commission for a training in your center.http://diversity.csl.
Advice for White Folks in the Wake of the Police Murder of a Black Person
And for immediate possible action.
https://www.facebook.com/
Peace and Blessings,
Dr. Kenn Gordon, Spiritual Leader