WISHING YOU A BLESSED 2024
By: Jo Doumbia
I hope you are enjoying the holidays and that in rhythm with nature you are having the opportunity to slow down and look into ways to recharge.
As part of my break, my reflection, and my setting of mind and soul for the new year, I came across the writings of the 2019 poet laureate, Joy Harjo. Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, she is a poet, a musician, and a member of the Mvskoke/Creek nation.
I am sharing with you one of her poems and invite you to read it aloud.
This particular reading is key in setting my intentions for 2024. It is helping structure the work I intent to continue doing with all of you, the FACS Family. It is helping me see and remember all connections and the need to holistically engage in working towards identifying, establishing, and supporting climate solutions. We will
- have advocacy to participate in,
- work to empower the disadvantage with knowledge and support so they also engage in and benefit from climate solutions,
- further greening the congregations’ grounds (solar, energy efficiency, native gardens, tree preservation, waste reduction, etc.) extending knowledge and practices to congregants, etc.
Remember
Joy Harjo 1951 –
Remember the sky that you were born under,
know each of the star’s stories.
Remember the moon, know who she is.
Remember the sun’s birth at dawn, that is the
strongest point of time. Remember sundown
and the giving away to night.
Remember your birth, how your mother struggled
to give you form and breath. You are evidence of
her life, and her mother’s, and hers.
Remember your father. He is your life, also.
Remember the earth whose skin you are:
red earth, black earth, yellow earth, white earth
brown earth, we are earth.
Remember the plants, trees, animal life who all have their
tribes, their families, their histories, too. Talk to them,
listen to them. They are alive poems.
Remember the wind. Remember her voice. She knows the
origin of this universe.
Remember you are all people and all people
are you.
Remember you are this universe and this
universe is you.
Remember all is in motion, is growing, is you.
Remember language comes from this.
Remember the dance language is, that life is.
Remember.