Unity – Umoja – To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.
Today is the first day of Kwanzaa. Many around the African
American community are celebrating this beautiful time of reflection, preparing
to get centered, and grounded in the principles that has created a living
foundation of life and love.
Today is a day of Unity in the English language, Umoja in
the Swahili language.
Merriam Webster defines unity as: A quality or state of not being multiple: oneness. A condition of harmony: accord. A totality of related parts: an entity that is a complex or systematic whole.
Unity. What is it? Looking back over the past 11 months of 2015, do we see unity? Can we look back even further and see this thing called unity? Do we see unity with the multiple killings of men, women, and children? Do we see unity when it appears that division is more powerful? Unity, how can we hold tight to this principle and really live it? Though many devastating events have taken place we still have unity and we must rise up even higher, grabbing hold of the many hands and hearts that are starving for such a grand gesture, to be united.
Generational curses have all but destroyed families. Abuse and neglect has taken the joy out of family gatherings. Mass killings have caused many to pause when it comes to attending a community function. The nation, is on high alert due to terrorist’s attacks, and the nasty hateful reality of race, has raised its ugly head even higher to divide and conquer.
My brothers and sisters, I don’t have all of the answers as to how we can get back to a place where unity is a village. I cannot give you a step-by-step process on how to keep unity in your eyegate. What I can share is that my heart is saddened by our lack of unity. I personally know what it is like to not be united with family, so called friends, and even acquaintances. I can share that my heart is saddened that for many, it is better to hold on to the hood mentality, the government system handouts, the pain of the past that has caused many to resign from growth and living. For most it is better to remain in illusion of unity than to be present in the actuality of being untied.
Merriam Webster defines unity as: A quality or state of not being multiple: oneness. A condition of harmony: accord. A totality of related parts: an entity that is a complex or systematic whole.
Unity. What is it? Looking back over the past 11 months of 2015, do we see unity? Can we look back even further and see this thing called unity? Do we see unity with the multiple killings of men, women, and children? Do we see unity when it appears that division is more powerful? Unity, how can we hold tight to this principle and really live it? Though many devastating events have taken place we still have unity and we must rise up even higher, grabbing hold of the many hands and hearts that are starving for such a grand gesture, to be united.
Generational curses have all but destroyed families. Abuse and neglect has taken the joy out of family gatherings. Mass killings have caused many to pause when it comes to attending a community function. The nation, is on high alert due to terrorist’s attacks, and the nasty hateful reality of race, has raised its ugly head even higher to divide and conquer.
My brothers and sisters, I don’t have all of the answers as to how we can get back to a place where unity is a village. I cannot give you a step-by-step process on how to keep unity in your eyegate. What I can share is that my heart is saddened by our lack of unity. I personally know what it is like to not be united with family, so called friends, and even acquaintances. I can share that my heart is saddened that for many, it is better to hold on to the hood mentality, the government system handouts, the pain of the past that has caused many to resign from growth and living. For most it is better to remain in illusion of unity than to be present in the actuality of being untied.
Today, stop and mediate on unity and what it means to you.
Take a good look around you and within you and acknowledge your addition or
subtraction to being united. Stand up and take responsibility for your lack of
participation and then, participate. Find one cause, one person, one event that
you can support, encourage, and motive, and if you cannot find a cause, create
one. It is that simple.
Be Blessed in Unity.
Too true that these days it seems impossible to be united around any cause. Sad.
ReplyDeleteYes. We just have keep doing our best with our part.
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