"If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded."
Maya Angelou
Today we join Make A Wish Foundation in celebrating "World Wish Day".
Please take a bit of your time to read the stories
and find out about the work that the foundation is doing all over the world.
“I’ve traveled the world over eight times. I do as many hospitals and orphanages as I do concerts. But, of course, it’s not covered [by the press]. That’s not why I do it - for coverage. I do it because it’s from my heart. And there are so many children in the city who haven’t seen the mountains, who haven’t been on a carousel, who haven’t petted a horse or a llama, never seen them... So if I can open my gates and see that bliss, an explosion of screaming laughter from the children and they run on the rides, I say, “Thank you, God.” I feel I’ve won God’s smile of approval, because I’m doing something that brings joy and happiness to other people.”
To the Least of These - Matthew 25:33-40 "The Son of Man will put the sheep (good people) on his right and the goats (bad people) on his left. "Then the king will say to those good people on his right, 'Come. My Father has given you great blessings. Come and get the kingdom God promised you. That kingdom has been prepared for you since the world was made. You can have this kingdom, because I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your home. I was without clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you came to visit me.' "Then the good people will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food? When did we see you thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you alone and away from home and invite you into our home? When did we see you without clothes and give you something to wear? When did we see you sick or in prison and care for you?' "Then the king will answer, 'I tell you the truth. Anything you did for any of my people here, you also did for me.'"
Recently, I started a human rights mission, in my own city.
I recently started a project which involves improving the educational pipeline for children birth to 18 years old. As part of my orientation to this work, I visited a project site. This visit took me through emotions of feeling privileged, somber, then hopeful.
As part of this visit, I took what was called a "Windshield Tour" in a mini bus, the kind that is typical of child care providers in U.S. neighborhoods. I rode along with four other professionals from a major corporation. We could all tour the area, but then could leave to the suburbs or the "revitalized" sectors of gentrified neighborhoods.
As we rode the bus, we literally stopped in front of housing projects that reportedly are virtually unchanged physically from when they were first built over 40 years ago. Environmentally, these places breed disease, both physical and mental. What I saw clearly qualified as a humanitarian cause.
We learned about the abestos that still insulates the units and the schools, and the methane burning that saturates the ground and air surrounding the neighborhood. The mental environment is just as toxic.
"This is where an eight-year old was gunned down after school, " the director explained, as I looked at the concrete slab, overlooked by a clothes line with two pairs of large denim jeans, and a black t-shirt. The black t-shirt, I later learned, was code for having lost someone to gang violence, while white signaled neutrality. I recalled seeing many adult men in black t-shirts or hoodies, standing at known drug trafficking points.
"From birth, these children are bred to be accustomed to prison," the director said as she described the tiny units with no air conditioner and cinderblock walls. They have been known to hold families of at least a dozen children, from multiple generations. At one housing project, many of the children's view is the city jail's row of large prickly loops of barbed wire, just below a hill called "Hanging Hill," a place where slaves who organized insurrections were hung.
Back at the center, there is hope. A dedicated full-time staff, and volunteers ranging from a former French judge from Paris (who teaches Global education) to an ascot- and denim jean- wearing music teacher, who manned the reception desk with as much class as I'm sure he instills in these children with music.
The children are picked up and dropped off directly to their homes for safety, and before they leave each night, they are given a hot meal, something they may not get when they get home. These are the families and children we are told to give up on, that they are not worth the effort. We are led to believe that these parents don't care. This statement can be true even in the wealthiest of homes. But, from what I've seen and heard, most of them care deeply, but they need support and coaching themselves.
And.. If I had any doubt that this work is inspired...
As we were setting to depart, we heard laughing and playing. The director said, "Here, they can be children."
The director hesitated to disturb them, but allowed us to take a peek inside of the gymnasium. There was a group of boys, about 10 of them, at around 10 years old or so. What was remarkable to us as we stared, was the backdrop of their play space. There was a stunning mural on the wall, with vibrant colors and a clear Motown theme.
The predominant images were instruments, vinyl records, and a picture of Stevie Wonder. But, the central, repetitive image was -- Michael Jackson.
The center of the mural featured Michael in his iconic pose, wearing his fedora hat shiny white glove. The assistant director noticed our amazement, and broke the silence.
"This was painted a year BEFORE he died."
We as fans of Michael cannot stop being amazed at how he touches the hearts and minds of children, too young to really understand who he is, or who love him despite the prevailing music of their "hood." It was and still is cool to love MJ.
I choose to believe that this yet again proves the gift of light that Michael has brought to the world, even in its darkest places. So, I again felt privileged for different reasons, and remain hopeful.
As one of our IAFL team members reminded me, this is a perfect message, especially as we honor the somberness of Good Friday and rejoice on Easter. My other IAFL member inspired this post with the video selection earlier today. No matter your religion or spiritual beliefs, this is a universal message.
1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.
2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.
3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.
5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Jesus Prays for His Disciples
6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world.
They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.
7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you.
8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them.
They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.
9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world,
but for those you have given me, for they are yours.
10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine.
And glory has come to me through them.
11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you.
Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me,
so that they may be one as we are one.
12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me.
None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world,
so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.
14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them,
for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.
15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Jesus Prays for All Believers
20 “My prayer is not for them alone.
I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—
23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you,
I know you, and they know that you have sent me.
26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
Wish you an enlightened day.
And wishing to one of my soul sisters a very Happy Birthday !
"As I began to love myself I found that anguish and emotional suffering are only warning signs that I was living against my own truth. Today, I know, this is AUTHENTICITY.
As I began to love myself I understood how much it can offend somebody As I try to force my desires on this person, even though I knew the time was not right and the person was not ready for it, and even though this person was me. Today I call it RESPECT.
As I began to love myself I stopped craving for a different life, and I could see that everything that surrounded me was inviting me to grow. Today I call it MATURITY.
As I began to love myself I understood that at any circumstance, I am in the right place at the right time, and everything happens at the exactly right moment. So I could be calm. Today I call it SELF-CONFIDENCE.
As I began to love myself I quit stealing my own time, and I stopped designing huge projects for the future. Today, I only do what brings me joy and happiness, things I love to do and that make my heart cheer, and I do them in my own way and in my own rhythm. Today I call it SIMPLICITY.
As I began to love myself I freed myself of anything that is no good for my health - food, people, things, situations, and everything the drew me down and away from myself. At first I called this attitude a healthy egoism. Today I know it is LOVE OF ONESELF.
As I began to love myself I quit trying to always be right, and ever since I was wrong less of the time. Today I discovered that is MODESTY.
As I began to love myself I refused to go on living in the past and worry about the future. Now, I only live for the moment, where everything is happening. Today I live each day, day by day, and I call it FULFILLMENT.
As I began to love myself I recognized that my mind can disturb me and it can make me sick. But as I connected it to my heart, my mind became a valuable ally. Today I call this connection WISDOM OF THE HEART.
We no longer need to fear arguments, confrontations or any kind of problems with ourselves or others. Even stars collide, and out of their crashing new worlds are born. Today I know THAT IS LIFE!
~ This Life Lesson is said to be written by Charlie Chaplin and it is also said that he recited these words on his 70th birthday. There are also voices who have doubts about it. I have to apologize that I could not verify whether or not Charlie Chaplin is the author. If any of our dear visitors could help to clearify, our team would very much appreciate.
Thank you! Cassarah
"The Google Doodle team stars in an homage to the silent film era's greatest star's 122nd birthday.
Full disclosure: none of the mustaches in the video are real.
Thank you, Google, for your homage to a man who compares to nothing...
"'A day without laughter is a day wasted.'Charlie Chaplin One of the few true entertainers. He truly believed in the power of communication and he didn't needed words for that.
His work is always a reminder of the simple most powerful things - love, smile, kindness. He created a world in which words are obsolete and deceiving. Emotions through body movement is the main attraction and the true expression of the soul."
Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is on an international base like the imprisoned Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo one (of two) China's most prominent dissidents. He would be globally recognized even without his rights activism. The artist has become increasingly involved in China's Twitter-using network of rights activists in recent years and has investigated some of the many alleged abuses by police and officials.
Chinese border police detained Ai Weiwei at Beijing's main airport on 03 April 2011, while other officers took away about eight employees from his main studio.The detention of China’s most famous artist and political critic Ai Weiwei is a troubling development in a widening crackdown on dissent which has seen dozens of activists detained over the last few months, Amnesty International said today. “Ai Weiwei was not even involved in any call for ‘Jasmine’ protests. There seems to be no reason whatsoever for his detention, other than that the authorities are trying to broadcast the message that China’s time for open dissent has come to an end” said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s Director for the Asia-Pacific.
Since online calls for Chinese ‘Jasmine Revolution’ protests inspired by people’s movements in the Middle East and North Africa began circulating in late February, the Chinese authorities have rounded up dozens of activists, lawyers and bloggers.
“We've already seen the chilling effect the ‘Jasmine Revolution’-related arrests have had on Chinese activists and netizens over the past month. Holding Ai Weiwei takes this to another level” said Sam Zarifi.
“If the authorities are so bold as to grab this world-renowned artist in broad daylight at Beijing airport, it’s frightening to think how they might treat other, lesser known dissidents.” (credits to: www.amnesty.nl)
Chinese artist Ai Weiwei was featured here already as he is a true Soldier of LOVE fighting for the rights of the unheard voices of the lost children and as a peaceful activist for freedom and democracy in China and around the world.
Support Ai Weiwei´s fight for human rights and sign this petition <- click here to let him free. Show the chinese government that the world is watching and that YOU CARE.
"On the evenings of April 1 and 2, 2011, prominent buildings across North America and the world — including the Empire State Building in New York City and the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada — will turn their lights blue to raise awareness for autism and to commemorate World Autism Awareness Day on
Saturday, April 2.
We’re aiming to light the world blue all throughout April — city by city, town by town — by taking action to raise autism awareness in our communities."
