(Photo credit: Krsna)

See the truth is: dreams never die; they are only forgotten or enacted. Dreams live and carry on, only empires perish. Only the dreamer can abnegate the dream; no force, fear, or fraud can rip it from the sinews within which it is embedded. The keys to Kingdom are within your heart and spirit, and once you wake up and realize this, you become immortal, or mortal – either way it doesn’t really matter because Resurrection exists. And you – and we – must practice it continually, daily.

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.(Ecclesiastes 1:2)

Thus preached the preacher in antiquity: what good be mirth or toil in this life if one returneth into the dust from whence we came. What good is our strife or plans, in this living world, if it must end in a lifeless death? But from this gloom and despair arose the dreamers – who still held hope for the kingdom and plans for themselves – though they may have to beat unavailing palms against the stone to get there (Du Bois, “Of Our Spiritual Strivings”).

It was the dreamers who held fast to the promises of the republic: democracy, equality and prosperity. They held ambitions powered by areckless imagination that was able to transcend the present quagmire and could recreate political reality – no it our own flawed image – but into a more humane and humanitarian one (McSweeny’s: Cardozo High School Student).

(photo credit: COLORLINES)

Of course the dreamers held many critics, from the right: they were unlawful, invasive, parasitic refugees who feasted on the wealth of the nation. To the left they were pawns of an un-repairable system whose lack of foresight disallowed them to see the implications of further aligning themselves with the kingdom. To themselves they were true: and in that truth laid a dormant spirit, that if awakened could consume the mightiest of mountains. Whether this life is worthy or not, was – and remains – the incorrect question; but: if this be the only life we get to live, (Unzueta) let it not be in vain! (McKay). If this be the world we inherited; let us not be slaves. Though our poverty has granted us a plethora of dreams, let them not solely be dreams, but, rather, both by night and day, let our life activity be realized within the present
reality and let us become that change we wish to see (Gandhi).

Though we love[d] the questions let us, then, live the questions, now – in this here Earth, utilizing our dogged determinism, unavailing hope, and well-intentioned dreams to the betterment of us all (Rilke: Letters to A Young Poet). Though we are treated as sub-human, less than persons, let us not fall into that contemporary normative malaise. We are people, and as such it is beneath us to demand what is inherently ours: the freedom to live, to work, to love, to study, to aspire, and be legitimately welcomed and accepted in our home (Dover ed. “Souls of Black Folk”)

Yes the outlook is grim, yes the empire, insurmountable, and yes the obstacles, overabundant. But let the giants be met with our whole and true selves and our whole force of grace, faith, hope and forgiveness. Come what may, it is our un-interrupted duty to reclaim not only our but our peers’ humanity so that posterity inherits not solely a more genteel, but a gentler world.

This, then, is our prayer, that, this our cry, and that today’s crooked path be made right (Du Bois: The Afterthought). Thus, in due time, let the tangled be made straight (Isaiah). And, these words fall not still born into the world-wilderness (Du Bois). Let us await the day when we can behold – all of us – as one; (Garrison) and welcome the imperishable kingdom, that true day, when every valley shall be made high, and the lion and the lamb shall lie down together, and a little child shall lead them(Isaiah).

(photo credit: Justin Valas)

So calleth the bride and the spirit: . . . let all who are athirst come andwhosover will, Come, and drink from the river of life freely (Revelation 22:21). Thus the sojourners maintained the calling alive and true that had tormented the chosen at night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye, return – Come (Isaiah 21:12).

Marco blogs at UndocumentedOhio.com; he enjoys painting, poetry and prayer.