“As I have said, the first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself… Great peacemakers are all people of integrity, of honesty, and humility.”

Nelson Mandela, who died on this day in 2013

Winter’s Cloak by Joyce Rupp

“This year I do not want
the dark to leave me.
I need its wrap
of silent stillness,
its cloak
of long-lasting embrace.
Too much light
has pulled me away
from the chamber
of gestation.

Let the dawns
come late,
let the sunsets
arrive early,
let the evenings
extend themselves
while I lean into
the abyss of my being.

Let me lie in the cave
of my soul,
for too much light
blinds me,
steals the source
of revelation.

Let me seek solace
in the empty places
of winter’s passage,
those vast dark nights
that never fail to shelter me.”

“They say angels fly because they take themselves lightly. It would do as well to aspire to mimic the behaviour of the angels and take ourselves lightly. Lightly does not mean less seriously, rather it means always feeling open and ready to learn and be more.”

Rav DovBer Pinson

“The chemistry of the mind is different from the chemistry of love. The mind is careful, suspicious, he advances little by little. He advises, “Be careful, protect yourself,” whereas love says, “Let yourself go!” The mind is strong, never falls down, while love hurts itself, falls into ruins. But isn’t it in ruins that we mostly find the treasures? A broken heart hides many treasures.”

Shams Tabrizi

“We must have courage — determination — to go on with the task of becoming free — not only for ourselves, but for the nation and the world — cooperate with each other. Have faith in God and ourselves… I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free … so other people would be also free… I would like to be known as a person who is concerned about freedom and equality and justice and prosperity for all people… To this day I believe we are here on earth to live, grow, and do what we can to make this world a better place for all people to enjoy freedom.”

Rosa Parks, civil rights activist, arrested in Montgomery, Alabama, on this day in 1955, for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger

“The best doctors in the world are Doctor Diet, Doctor Quiet, and Doctor Merryman.”

Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels, born on this day in 1667

“Love is a flower that grows in any soil, works its sweet miracles undaunted by autumn frost or winter snow, blooming fair and fragrant all the year, and blessing those who give and those who receive.”

Louisa May Alcott, born on this day in 1832

“Joy and woe are woven fine,
A clothing for the soul divine,
Under every grief and pine,
Runs a joy with silken twine.
It is right it should be so,
We were made for joy and woe,
And when this we rightly know,
Through the world we safely go.”

William Blake, born on this day in 1757

“Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in our lifetime; therefore we must be saved by hope. Nothing which is true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; therefore we must be saved by faith. Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore we are saved by love.”

Reinhold Neibuhr

“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.”

Joy Harjo