Photo of Fannie Lou Hamer from the Library of Congress
My favorite quote comes from Fannie Lou Hamer, “Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.” True liberation is interdependent, segments of the population may have certain privileges, but no one is truly liberated while there is a system of oppression in place. -Aisha Hauser (CLF)
How can you express your interdependence with others today?
I am fat. This adjective is not an insult, nor does it come with any moral judgment attached to it. It is simply a description of my body. Doctors are routinely amazed when tests they run show that my heart, liver, and blood sugar are all healthy. And yet, at this time of year especially, I am bombarded with messages meant to shame my body. This year, I will try to push back with love for my physical being in all of its abundance. -Rev. Dr. Michael Tino (CLF)
What is something you love about your body?
(Photo of Rev. Dr. Emilie Townes from Vanderbilt University Divinity School)
“An important distinction must be made: liberation and freedom are not the same. Liberation is a process. Freedom is a temporary state of being. Liberation is dynamic. It never ends.” -Rev. Dr. Emilie Townes (Womanist theologian and social ethicist – read more about Dr. Townes here: https://www.theworkofthepeople.com/person/emilie-townes )
How do you experience the difference between freedom and liberation?
At the beginning of this new year, we imagine possibility. Our theme for the month, liberation, will ask us to imagine a world in which all people are free. Today, let us begin with the possibilities for ourselves and our being. Imagine new things are possible for you.
What do you hope is possible for you in 2023?
There is always time to rest. To acknowledge that every waking moment does not have to be filled with activities and striving. We need to be able to rest often. We need to be able to take a step back before things are overwhelming. Rest is how we grow. Rest is how we learn. Rest is how we show up for each other. -JeKaren Olaoya (CLF)
How have you noticed growth in yourself when you are well-rested?
