I woke this morning … July 3, 2020
As is my habit on Friday morning I cleaned the house before getting ready to welcome honored guests who are exploring ways to, as Father Boyle says, to return themselves to themselves” which helps me to return myself to myself. My accompaniment on this cleaning journey on Friday mornings is the On Being podcast. This morning was a rebroadcast of the 2011 conversation between host Krista Tippett and the late civil rights activist, author and the chairperson of the Veterans of Hope Project at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Vincent Harding. (Mr. Harding died in 2014), This title of the conversation was “Is America Possible”. Putting aside for the moment my issue with the use of the word America to refer to these United States (We are but one of the Americas.) it is the question which many of us continue to ask. The real question is whether it is possible to build and sustain a democracy – rule by, for, of the people. I take people to mean all the people; people of all races, genders, religions, sexual orientations, and financial status (not just landowners)
Vincent Harding was a veteran of the civil rights movement and a colleagues and friend of Martin Luther King Jr. He also a veteran of a version of the Christian Church which could be composed of those committed to hope, non-violence, and the courage to work on their own healing/growth on a daily basis. These were people who were determined to walk the talk and talk the walk. Music frequently set the cadence for the walk. Music has always been a means to express our deepest emotions, our dreams, our disappointments and in the case of the oppressed to exchange coded messages. Some historic Christian hymns were adopted and adapted by those in the civil rights movements to reflect their specific needs and goals. Such was the case with song, “I woke up this morning with my mind stayed on freedom.” (Created by the Reverend Robert Wesby of Auroa, Illinois in the Hinds County Jail as a revamp of “I woke up this morning with my mind stayed on Jesus”). Another song often sung during this time was, “This little light of mine.” (This little light of mine. I’m going to let it shine.)
These are very powerful, positive, strong songs which reflected the hope, faith and determination of the wide variety of those committed to the civil rights movement. (There are numerous recordings of these songs on You Tube.)
With the luxury of my portable bluetooth speaker I can play podcasts and music while I am cleaning, This morning since there was no one to be offended by my off key “singing” I tackled cleaning while accompanying John Legend (“I woke up this morning with my mind stayed on Freedom”) (, Mavis Staple (No time for crying” – We got work to do” )and Odetta (“This little light of mine”)
I associate these songs and what they represented in the civil rights movement with the freedom to believe a democracy is possible; that all is possible to those who have the courage to believe, that hope can sprout wings.
What I need to remember and what I often remind others is this is spiritual work; that spiritual work is daily work; that if we are not working on going forward, we are going backwards.
On this July 4th lets resolve to move forward with hope, determination and the strength that our light can shine in the midst of darkness while singing, “I woke up this morning with my mind strayed on freedom”. “I WOKE UP THIS MORNING WITH MY MIND STAYED ON FREEDOM”. I WOKE UP THIS MORNING WITH MY MIND STAYED ON FREEDOM. HALLELU. HALLEU.
Written July 3, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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