Quote of the Month

“As soon as healing takes place, go out and heal somebody else.”

                                                        

                                                                Maya Angelou

Living the Dream

Yesterday, I took a trip to the Birmingham Civil Rights museum in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. I always take this day to either participate in some type of community service or to pay respects to those who went before me and paved the road.  Every time I look back, I learn more and more, and appreciate even more the sacrifices people, both black and white, made in order for us to live in the world we know today. As I walked through the museum, overflowing with families of small kids and older adults, I felt a mixture of emotions. There were some points that made me proud. Like when I saw the pictures of Rosa Parks sitting on the bus or when I listen to a recording of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Other points made me sad, such as learning that “Jim Crow” came from a minstrel song where white men dressed in black face and seeing pictures of the 6 children (yes, there were 2 boys in addition to the 4 girls) bombed at Sixteenth Baptist Church right here in Birmingham.  Still, some points made me angry, like watching interviews from the Freedom Riders, as they were beaten and bombed or realizing the image of Aunt Jemima, dating back to the late 1800s, is still a symbol we can see everyday in our local grocery stores.  Walking out of the museum, I realized how far we have come and yet how far we have to go……

Today, which will  be just as historic and celebrated in the future, President-elect, Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th President and known in the history books as the 1st African American president. Many people have traveled to be a part of the ceremonies and celebration surrounding his inauguration. It is definitely a huge step in the direction towards equality. From the days of slavery where a black person was considered 3/5ths of  a person to nonviolent movements for integration of schools and public places to voting rights for all. However, it is not the realization of King’s dream. There is still many injustices that still exist:  in our justice system, in the case of Jena 6, in our health-care infrastructure, in the case of the millions who live without health insurance, in our political system, in the case of rights for gays and lesbians, and in individual opinions and actions. We still have so far to go…..

Tomorrow I will wake up and Barack Obama will be the President of the United States, many of the policies and freedoms I enjoy will be the result of the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and many other civil rights leaders, and there will be much work to still be done…..

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow – Old dreams will be remembered, Present Dreams will be realized, and New dreams will be formed. We are living the dream.

Mission Possible

Ever wonder what the word “mission” really means? Like what does it mean when people go on mission trips? Or how do companies come up with their mission statements? And why are places that give shelter and food to the homeless called missions? I asked myself these questions and decided to do a little research.

The term “mission” came  from Latin origins which means “to send”, equivalent to the Greek word meaning “apostle”. In the early days of Christianity, those who believed would go out to places where there was not worship, introduce people to Christianity,  and try to convert them.  Along the same lines, many churches organize mission trips to places where people are less fortunate and they work to create better conditions for the native people, but also spread the Gospel.

However, mission work is not specified to Christianity. Many other faiths are involved in mission work. Even you can have a specific mission. Mission, in the general sense, means a specfic job that a person or group of people have been assigned to carry out. This assignment may come from a boss, a teacher, a religous leader, a higher power, or even you. 

Here’s a fun exercise to help you create a mission statement for yourself. http://www.franklincovey.com/tc/resources/view/msb

Here is an example of mine:

Your Kick start Mission Statement:
I will be honest in my abilities.
I will care for others even when they are incapable of caring for themselves.
I will enjoy each moment of life.
I will reach out to others and give my time and talents.
I will work to be a whole person.
I will follow God’s order for my life, knowing His plan exceeds what I envision.
I will find joy in life every day.
I will love the Lord with all my Heart, all my mind, and my strength.
I will continue to dream even when obstacles get in the way.
I will work only on things I am passionate about.
I will live out my purpose.
I will inspire others through my story.
I will love unconditionally.
I will forgive.

Humorous Reflection

A very interesting take on Faith-based Public Health