Pray first...take action

I have most often found it easy to speak on behalf on someone or something. I have had no problem bringing forward injustice and seeking ways to resolve issues and working with others for a common purpose.
I have always had difficulty speaking for myself. Whether it was in a work enviroment or a home enviroment, I often just let situations pass while feeling bad for myself and allowing myself to be a victim. So I have been learning to honor myself and honor creation in doing so.
I had a situation today, where I had been excluded from an event which was planned by the team I am a member of. I had to decide whether to let it go or raise the question. I chose to raise the question of exclusion. Actually, I found out that not only was I excluded, I was not even invited to attend. So I thought about about, then I prayed about it. It came to me that I could not expect others to speak for themselves in situations, if I could not speak for myself. It was also somewhat hollow to speak about causes and injustices - if I could not use my own voice to speak up and stand up for myself. So I did again, I respectfully discussed the situation and brought attention to the implications of the exclusion. I know that further discussions will come as a result, and it is my hope that change will also come as a result of using my voice for myself. It was only through the power of prayer, listening for the answer and taking action that I was able again to add another piece to me as I journey to wholeness. So I give thanks for this action and I give thanks to my friends who supported me in this action. It has indeed been a powerful day and a powerful teaching.

Moving from victimhood to Wholeness

I am not even sure what the opposite generative term is for Victim. Many use the terms Survivor, which is fine, however for me it still leaves a residue of discord.
In 2008, National Chief Phil Fontaine gave an emotional presentation to the Canada Club in Toronto. What drew the emotion was that despite the good faith in which First Nations leaders negotiated in the Kelowna Accord, the results were never enacted by government. I am sure that is the leaders felt when they negotiated the treaties several years ago. the more things change the more they remain the same. A few months later, I stepped into a walk-in clinic in downtown Winnipeg. In the middle of a very full waiting room was a younger Indigenous man, lamenting to all that we are not equal. His words are burned in my memory. He said, "they told us we were equal. but we are not. They told us we were equal." Pretty much the same message that the National Chief gave to the Canada club. it led me to think about the energy that we put into our words and actions. How could this young sunburnt man hold the same message as the national Chief, without ever hearing his words. It is about energy. So it led me to understand that we can change the world through our thoughts and our actions. Imagine, if we speak in the present and recognize the many gifts that each of us have to give the world. Imagine if we think and speak and believe in the intimate resiliency that we all have as human beings. Imagine if the words we share with the world are about our strengths. Imagine what this world can be.