Pilgrimage Update #2 - Pain, incredible speeches.

Pain. Never did like it much. Actually I usually am very unfond of pain.
This type of pain is familiar, and is not a surprise: very achy feet;
blisters; painful, burning chafing in the upper thighs and crotch; a little
bit of sun burn, especially on my left arm; all around muscle soreness;
plus a new one-a burning rash on my calfs, the nurse thinks it might be
poison ivy. All from one day's activities: walking 20 miles on a hot sunny
day in Georgia. But that is part of what this is about for me. Being
willing to sacrifice, to endure the many miles of walking and all the pains
and aches that go along with that both as part of my prayer, and as a
personal act of repentance in behalf of the white race for all of the
atrocities done to the African people over the last 400 or so years.

Incredible speeches. Wow. Really wish I had a transcript of some of those
speeches. Over a couple of days we were given speeches (or charges as they
are sometimes called by African Americans down here) by a half of a dozen
powerful African American leaders, including Bishop Tutu, Andrew Young
(former colleague of MLK and former Ambassador to UN), Mrs. Abernaque (close
former colleague of MLK), Dr. Black, Rev. Timothy McDonald, Dr. Ndugu, and a
couple others. So many inspiring powerful speeches in such a short time. I
only have time to write about what moved me most.

Dr. Black gave one of the most powerful speeches I ever did hear. Now what
you must realize is no matter how well I could put his words onto 'paper',
it would not come close to what he actually expressed. All of these African
American speakers put such emotion into their speeches that their already
moving words really move the spirit through the audience. So anyways, Dr.
Black told a story. Here is a short rendition of the story.

There was a family living a settled life somewhere, when out of the blue
the elders came and said we must go on a very long journey and never
return. Take what is most precious to you, we are leaving in the morning.
So the children ran around and picked out their favorite toys, and the
adults picked out their most sacred or needed belongings, and in the
morning off they went. They asked the elders where they were going and how
long would it take? The elders answered it will take a very long time, and
we will know when we get there. So the years passed. The children grew
older, until some of them started having children themselves. Along the
way, they suffered many difficulties, and were always complaining about
their hardships and wondering when they would get there. So finally after
20 years, the found a place that everyone immediately knew was what they
had be looking for. So the elders looked for a sign from the spirits that
this was the place. The spirits said, "Yes, indeed this is the place. But
more important than the destination is the journey, and on your journey
you were always complaining and never appreciating what was before you at
the time. Along the way we put so many precious things for you to enjoy and
benefit from, but you saw nor felt none of it. So you must journey back to
your original destination, and then turn right around and come back. But
this time you must cherish the journey. You must cherish all the precious
things we put before you: the flowers, the companionship, the places, the
people, the changes of seasons and weather. Only then can you truly
complete you journey to our satisfaction."

So as always, the elders honored what the spirits had told them, and had
the whole family turn around and head back. This time it took them even
longer, 50 years to get there and back. But the funny thing was that it did
not matter for they had cherished the journey itself, and all the precious
things along the way.

Dr. Black then tied this story both to the Middle Passage and to our
pilgrimage. He also talked incredibly insightfully about how even through
the horror of the Middle Passage the incredible challenges and difficulties
gave rise to incredible stories of courage, strength, and creativity; and
that for our Pilgrimage to truly honor the Middle Passage we must also
pass through incredible challenges and difficulties and rise to the
occasion with courage, strength, and creativity. (At least something like
that, I don't remember the exact words.)

Bishop Tutu also gave us a great little speech. He talked about how their
victory in South Africa was not just a victory for South Africa, but a
spiritual
 victory for the whole world. He really stressed that it is our humanity
that counts, not our race, color, creed, or class. He also said that after
listening to the testimonies given in the Truth and Reconciliation hearings
in South Africa (people under the amnesty honestly, and in detail,
confessing to all of the atrocities they committed - weather torture,
murder, rape, terrorism) he clearly realized that we all have the greatest
possibility for evil within us, each and every one of us. And at the same
time we all, each and every one of us, has the greatest capacity for good
within. He also said that God was impotent to act in this world, except for
through us. So it is us who need to strive to live and do the greatest
possible good, and thus let God do good in this world through us.

I wanted to write more about the speeches that happened over these past
days, but right now I am exhausted late at night, and I know that tomorrow
with be just as busy, if not busier than today. So there is a lot I just
can't put in her. This pilgrimage is fuller than you can possibly imagine.
Today we rose before 6:00 and besides dealing with personal necessities of
shower, laundry, and medical, I had less than 10 minutes free time until
after 10:00 PM.

Have a great day.

Much peace, love, and happiness,


Shanti Om Gaia
shanti@igc.org

I am currently participating in the Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle
Passage, retracing by foot and by boat the slave trade route from New
England to Africa. For more information, please see the following web page:
www.interfaithpilgrimage.com (also a friend of mine is posting articles
about the pilgrimage on the following web page:
www.brightworks.com/quaker/midpass.html)

May all beings be happy!
May all beings live in love and peace!
May peace prevail on this beautiful living earth!