Mother's Day - We are standing until everyone has a seat

Five years ago, I began standing with others on Mother’s Day.

The origin of Mother’s Day in the United States was not about brunch, cards, or flowers.  Those things are nice, but not what the day is really about. We have forgotten and need to reclaim that memory and intention.

In the 1800s, two women left their mark on the beginnings of Mother’s Day, Julia Ward Howe and Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis. These women were interested in creating engaged citizens – activists. In their day, the issues were improved health, sanitation, working conditions, and ending violence.  I can only guess that they chose to use Mother’s Day because they were mothers and were dismayed to think of their children suffering in this world they brought them into or harming another woman’s child.  I think fathers feel the same way.

While health, sanitation, and working conditions have improved in much of the world; violence has not. AND there are still children without clean drinking water, adequate food, access to education, or safety from violence.

It grieves my heart to think of the children that are suffering when there is so much abundance in this world.

The world tells us there isn’t enough of everything to invite everyone to the table, things are scarce and we need to get ours, take care of our own.  The world has grown too small for us to continue to hold on to this way of thinking and feeling. Scarcity thinking creates fear.  When we make our decisions based on fear instead of love, it is likely we will harm others. There is plenty of evidence in the world to support this theory.

This Mother’s Day, we invite you and your loved ones to stand for Love - to take back this day and help move the world with your love for one another and this beautiful blue orb we live on - to make room at the table for everyone.

Please stop waiting for our governments to do what we as citizens of the world can do for ourselves. This is not a game of musical chairs where only one person is the winner and has a seat at the table.  [It would be very lonely to be the only person at the table.]  Everyone deserves to be at the table. Come stand with me to help bring more chairs to the table for everyone to have a seat.

I am standing on Mother’s Day, May 8 at 1pm at Hyde Park Square’s fountain and ringing my bell and holding the world in love. Come join me where ever you are and know we are standing together.

Your Certainty Leaves No Space For Me

I am reposting a comment I left on my friend, Craig's website this morning - Recycle Your Faith

In late May of this year, I heard Louise (from South Africa) share that after making a presentation - a woman came up to her.  The woman asked Louise if she could offer a suggestion for future talks.  She told Louise that the certainty with which she spoke about the subject had left no space for her to express her voice and her experience - because her experience was different from Louise's certainty.

It has haunted me ever since.  

“Your certainty leaves no space for me.” – I find myself saying this a lot. It is a reminder to me. Am I leaving space for others?

Some things I feel and know so strongly that when I express my certainty – it leaves no room for others to express their experience, perceptions, truths, or beliefs that may be different than my own. I feel convicted to think I have shut out others with my certainty.  

It is only a recent awareness. I thought being certain was a good thing. I am re-thinking that.

How can I have a conversation – dialog with another – if I am leaving no “space” for them?

When I think on this scripture – “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:7-9 – I am reminded how arrogant we humans can be to think we know the mind of God.

Love God, love your neighbor.

Have I cheated them and myself by not hearing their voices?  I think, yes - I am less because I have lost this opportunity to hear their voice.  As I leave space for other voices, my capacity is expanded - their capacity is expanded.  The world is richer for it.

I invite you to join me in setting aside your certainty and in leaving space for other voices.