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Celebrating Kwanzaa << Previous Next >>
Guest author: Therese Taylor-Stinson
Kwanzaa is a seven day festival celebrating the African American people, their culture, and their history. Kwanzaa begins on December 26 and continues until January 1.
Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966, during the period of United States history when African Americans were involved in struggles for their civil rights. Dr. Karenga wanted to create a holiday that would unite African Americans in celebration of their culture. He was inspired by the "first fruit" festivals that were celebrated throughout Africa. These first fruit festivals shared important characteristics.
1. To gather together to celebrate their crops and harvest (community).
2. To give thanks to their Creator for a good harvest and life (faith).
3. To remember and celebrate their ancestors and the past (history).
4. To recommit themselves to their community (purpose).
5. Celebration of their history, culture, Creator, and promise of another year (creativity).
These characteristics inspired the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa.
Unity—Umoja
Strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
Self-determination—Kujichagulia
Define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.
Collective Work and Responsibility—Ujima
Build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems to be solved together.
Cooperative Economics—Ujamaa
Build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses, and to profit from them together.
Purpose—Nia
Make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
Creativity—Kuumba
Always do as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
Faith—Imani
Believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
--Therese Taylor-Stinson, Spiritual Directors International member, and a Presbyterian spiritual director.
12/26,2009, at 16:26
December 26, 2009--The first day of Kwanzaa--Unity "Umoja" (oo-MO-jah) “[S]he who experiences the unity of life sees h[er] own Self in all beings, and all beings in his own Self, and looks on everything with an impartial eye.” ~Buddha Parable Of The Spoons (A Beautiful Story) A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, "Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like. "The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The Lord said, "You have seen Hell." They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew, which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here, the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, "I don't understand." "It is simple," said the Lord; "it requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other. While the greedy think only of themselves. (Author unknown)
12/27,2009, at 13:53
December 27, 2009--The second day of Kwanzaa--Self-Determination "Kujichagulia" (koo-gee-cha-goo-LEE-yah) "Without a self in the world the only way to cross the gulf to God is to be the Gulf that is God. No separation. All is One." ~Author Unknown Still I Rise You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I'll rise. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? 'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells Pumping in my living room. Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise. Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops, Weakened by my soulful cries. Does my haughtiness offend you? Don't you take it awful hard 'Cause I laugh like I got gold mines Diggin' in my own back yard. You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I'll rise. Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I've got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs? Out of the huts of history's shame I rise Up from a past that's rooted in pain I rise I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise. © Maya Angelou, 1978.
12/28,2009, at 09:46
December 28, 2009--The third day of Kwanzaa--Collective Work and Responsibility "Ujima" (oo-GEE-mah) "If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea." ~Antoine de Saint Exupery Lessons of the Geese In the fall, when you see geese heading south for the winter flying along in the "V" formation, you might be interested in knowing what science has discovered about why they fly that way. It has been learned that, as each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds about 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own. Quite similar to people who are part of a team and share a common direction get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the trust of one another and lift each other up along the way. Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of suddenly going through it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the power of the flock. If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation and share information with those who are headed in the same way that we are going. When the lead goose gets tired, [s]he rotates back in the wings and another goose takes over. It pays to share leadership and to take turns doing the hard jobs. The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep their speed. Words of support and encouragement help energize those on the front line, helping them to keep pace in spite of the day-to-day pressures and fatigue. It is important that our honking is encouraging, otherwise, it is just... well... honking! Finally, when a goose gets sick or is wounded and falls out, two geese fall out of the formation and follow the injured one down to help and protect him. They stay with him until he is either able to fly or until he is dead. Then, they launch out with another formation until they can catch up with their group. When one of us is down, it's up to the others to stand by us in our time of trouble. If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other when things get rough. We will stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go. The next time you see a formation of geese, remember their message that: It is indeed a reward, a challenge, and a privilege to be a contributing member of a team! © Dr. Robert McNeish 1972.
12/28,2009, at 16:35
Thank you for your piece on Kwanzaa. I have heard that story before about the difference between heaven and hell, but you so put it in context with the Unity theme. In fact at my family celebration of Kwanzaa, I think I will use that to talk about Unity. Thanks & Godspeed!
12/28,2009, at 16:54
December 29, 2009--The fourth day of Kwanzaa--Cooperative Economics "Ujamaa" (oo-JAH-mah) "I have learned that, in God's economy, generosity pays great dividends!" ~©Therese Taylor-Stinson 2009. Wisdom's Gift Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there lived a man. The man was blessed with three sons and seventeen camels. The man lived a contented life until he died. Before he died, he bequeathed his precious camels to his beloved children in the following manner: To his firstborn, one-half of seventeen camels; to his second son, one-third; and to his youngest, one-ninth. The father died. The three gathered to execute the father's bequest, but to their chagrin and great frustration, they realized that seventeen camels are not divisible by two--not without a big mess, at least. Furthermore, seventeen camels cannot be split equally into thirds or into ninths. Frustrated by their dilemma, the three children stared silently into one another's eyes. Three days passed. Three days in which the siblings met regularly to discuss among themselves various dimensions of their shared conundrum, and yet to no avail. Once stumped, forever stumped. On the third day, they noticed an approaching caravan. Wisdom approached, riding a camel. She disembarked and said, "Please add my camel to your lot, and try again." The eldest exclaimed, "Eighteen camels can be divided in half--nine camels!" The middle child discovered, "Eighteen camels can be split by three--six camels!" And the youngest revealed, "Eighteen camels can be divided by nine--two camels! Nine camels plus six camels plus two camels equals seventeen camels." With that, Wisdom climbed up on her camel and rode away! ~Mark Hinds, "Wisdom's Gift..." [Sometimes, Wisdom shared is better than wisdom designed. ~©Therese 2009.]
12/28,2009, at 17:05
December 29, 2009--The fourth day of Kwanzaa--Cooperative Economics "Ujamaa" (oo-JAH-mah) “In God's economy, nothing is wasted. Through failure, we learn a lesson in humility which is probably needed, painful though it is.” Bill Wilson Economics 101 It is the month of August, on the shores of the Black Sea. It is raining, and the little town looks totally deserted. It is tough times, everybody is in debt, and everybody lives on credit. Suddenly, a rich tourist comes to town. He enters the only hotel, lays a 100 Euro note on the reception counter, and goes to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to pick one. The hotel proprietor takes the 100 Euro note and runs to pay his debt to the butcher. The Butcher takes the 100 Euro note and runs to pay his debt to the pig grower. The pig grower takes the 100 Euro note, and runs to pay his debt to the supplier of his feed and fuel. The supplier of feed and fuel takes the 100 Euro note and runs to pay his debt to the town's prostitute that, in these hard times, gave her "services" on credit. The hooker runs to the hotel and pays off her debt with the 100 Euro note to the hotel proprietor to pay for the rooms that she rented when she brought her clients there. The hotel proprietor then lays the 100 Euro note back on the counter so that the rich tourist will not suspect anything. At that moment, the rich tourist comes down, after inspecting the rooms, and takes his 100 Euro note after saying that he did not like any of the rooms, and leaves town. No one earned anything. However, the whole town is now without debt and looks to the future with a lot of optimism. ~Author Unknown
12/29,2009, at 08:30
I loved the story on the formation of the Geese for Dec. 28. It an apt illustration of what Paul teaches in Romans 12 and I Cor. 12 regarding the unity of the church and the gifts of the Spirit. We are one body, with various gifts and when they are working unselfishly together, the church moves fluently and powerfully in fulfilling its purpose on earth. I will be using that story in an upcoming sermon. Thanks Therese and God bless. -- alh
12/29,2009, at 21:30
December 30, 2009--The fifth day of Kwanzaa--Purpose "Nia" (nee-YAH) "Finding our vocation [calling] is not just 'finding my lifework,' nor even 'finding what God wants me to do.' Finding our vocation is largely a matter of finding where God is, the God who hides in our neighbors, in ourselves, and in [the] world. Once we notice the Hidden God at work—in the workplace, families, the community, and the church—and when we realize the part we play in [God’s] design, we have found our vocation." ~ God at Work, Gene Edward Veith Teaching Story In a large temple north of Thailand's ancient capital, Sukotai, there once stood an enormous and ancient clay Buddha. Though not the most handsome or refined work of Thai Buddhist art, it had been cared for over a period of five hundred years and become revered for its sheer longevity. Violent storms, changes of government, and invading armies had come and gone, but the Buddha endured. At one point, however, the monks who tended the temple noticed that the statue had begun to crack and would soon be in need of repair and repainting. After a stretch of particularly hot, dry weather, one of the cracks became so wide that a curious monk took his flashlight and peered inside. What shone back at him was a flash of brilliant gold! Inside this plain old statue, the temple residents discovered one of the largest and most luminous gold images of Buddha ever created in Southeast Asia. Now uncovered, the golden Buddha draws throngs of devoted pilgrims from all over Thailand. The monks believe that this shining work of art had been covered in plaster and clay to protect it during times of conflict and unrest. In much the same way, each of us has encountered threatening situations that lead us to cover our innate nobility. Just as the people of Sukotai had forgotten about the golden Buddha, we too have forgotten our essential nature. Much of the time we operate from the protective layer. [We need help us see beneath this armoring and bring out our original goodness, our "traditional greatness."] ~ Jack Kornfield in The Wise Heart
12/29,2009, at 21:38
December 30, 2009--The fifth day of Kwanzaa--Purpose "Nia" (nee-YAH) "You are not a troubled guest on this earth, you are not an accident amidst other accidents your were invited." ~David Whyte, What To Remember When Waking The Name of the Tree Once there was a terrible drought in the land of the animals. A kindly king came from over the mountain and planted a special tree. He told them that this tree would bear fruit all year round in any kind of weather. All they had to do to get the fruit was to speak its name. The name of the tree was Oowungalema. The animals thanked the kind old king, and he returned to his own land, which was far over the mountain. The animals then sounded the Great Drum to call everyone for miles around. When all were gathered at the tree, the lion asked Anansi to speak the name of the tree. "I thought you were going to remember the name!" said Anansi. "I don't remember the name!" said the lion, "Someone must know it!" They asked everyone who had been there when the old king planted the tree, but not one of them could remember the name of the tree. They decided to send someone to ask the king for the name. They were all very hungry, so they decided to send someone fast. They sent the hare. The hare ran as fast as he could through villages, across the river, through the bush, over the mountain and straight to the court of the kindly old king. The king told him, "The name of the tree is Oowungalema." The hare ran back, repeating the name to himself as he went along. On the way home, he stopped at the river to rest and take a drink. The water was nice and cool. It felt good after all that running. The hare splashed around for a while to cool himself off, then he got out of the water and started back to the tree. When he got back, the animals all cheered. "Now we can have the fruit!" they shouted. Hare went up to the tree to speak the name, "Oomagamoomoo, no, oobapadoopa, Noomooogamooga" Try as he might, the hare just couldn't remember the name. "We have to send someone else," Lion said at last. So the springbok was sent. She ran all the way to the king over the mountain and tried to keep the name in her head all the way home, but coming through the forest, she tripped over a root and bumped her head. The name was lost again. Next they sent Leopard, but on the way back, he started chasing a monkey who was teasing him. He forgot the name as well. Many others tried and failed until, finally, the tortoise asked if she might go. Most of the animals laughed because the tortoise is so slow. "Give her a chance!" Anansi said; "She may succeed where the rest of us have failed." The tortoise went to her mother and asked, "What do you do if you must remember something very important?" Her mother told her to keep repeating it no matter what happens. So the tortoise set out on her journey. When she reached the king over the mountain, he said, "The name of the tree is Oowungalema." Tortoise kept repeating it over and over to herself all the way home. When the monkeys teased her in the forest, she only said, "Oowungalema." When she passed by the river and the sound of the water made her thirsty, she looked at the water and said, "Oowungalema." And when she got near her house and her children came running to her, she only said, "Oowungalema." Finally, the tortoise came to the tree. All the other animals were anxiously waiting. The lion spoke, "Tortoise, please speak the name of the tree." Tortoise said, "Oowungalema." At last, the animals were able to eat the fruit. Everyone was grateful to the tortoise who kept to her purpose where every one else had failed.
12/30,2009, at 19:02
Thanks, Therese, for continuing to educate me. I'm embarrased how little I know. Still more to talk about. Marty
12/30,2009, at 20:09
December 31, 2009--The sixth day of Kwanzaa--Creativity "Kuumba" (koo-OOM--bah) "Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth--that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too." ~ Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe Leadership of Creativity and Compassion I have discovered that, indeed, what I am doing when I find myself in the center of my passion for life and where God seems most present to me is connecting fellow human beings to God, myself, and others--usually in some unconventional way. I don’t really consider myself a "creative" person in the traditional sense of the word as I know it. I feel I am my most "creative" when writing or singing, and it seems that my creativity is sparked internally when I tap into the passion at the center of my soul, that authentic part of me at the core of my being, that comes out of my life experiences, and externally, my creativity is sparked when a person or persons, or circumstances, outside of myself touch(es) that center in some mysterious way. During Shalem's Deepening Contemplative Leadership Program, I found my creative leadership around my area of focus rather evasive. I tried to put forth some effort in this area throughout the program and around the assignments given. However, I found God showing up in other unexpected areas where I am also exercising leadership. Over time, my creativity around my area of focus turned to discerning ways to engage the small group of spiritual directors of color I have currently gathered through communication, projects, and common interests; using Facebook to sustain International connections that are sometimes remote; providing a welcoming and open environment for a few new members; and using my gift with words to help promote and encourage attendance by people of color at relevant events. None of these, however, seem to tap into that which truly sparks my most creative self, as I believe that is done for me through actual connection with God and others. Then I read Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s words, ". . . when I obediently lose myself in your vast folds, I am immersed in God’s creative action . . . ." So, how would I describe my leadership when it is most creative? Using Rabia Elizabeth Roberts’ words, it is when I "show up . . . in an alert state of unknowing." Roberts goes on to say, and I agree, "Each situation has its own information embedded within the relationships that comprise it. If [I] am patient and curious, the natural intelligence of the situation will reveal what is needed . . . . To be sensitive to this intelligence requires that [I] slow down and learn to hold the focus without needing to drive the agenda. [I] may need to wait . . . for the moment when right action is clear[,] [a]nd [I] may not know for some time what success will look like when the action is complete." This precisely describes my leadership at its most creative, and how my area of focus has unfolded for me. I have just shown up to events that have inspired action, and I have acted when the situation gave information that called for it. I have imperfectly tried to be patient and curious about where the natural intelligence of the situation is leading me, and I have found that, when I slow down and just hold my area of focus in the presence of this sacred mystery, it somehow reaps right action. From the beginning, I have left the outcome to God, abandoning any agenda or needed course of action, and slowly, I am being witness to what success may look like at its completion. I am excited about how I will be privileged to exercise contemplative leadership. One of the ways will be in gathering spiritual directors of color Internationally. In that effort, I am hopeful to be blessed to witness what success will look like to that point. However, it may be some time before that action is complete. And so I envision my time with my area of focus to be much like the words of T. S. Eliot. You say I am repeating Something I have said before. I shall say it again. Shall I say it again? In order to arrive there, To arrive where you are, to get from where you are not, You must go by a way wherein there is not ecstasy. In order to arrive at what you do not know You must go by a way which is the way of ignorance. In order to possess what you do not possess You must go by the way of dispossession. In order to arrive at what you are not You must go through the way in which you are not. And what you do not know is the only thing you know And what you own is what you do not own And where you are is where you are not. ~East Coker III I find I am constantly repeating myself, and all seems quite mundane. I find that there is much that I do not know, do not possess, that I am not. And in the end, I own none of it, it belongs to the universe, for which, by some mystery, I am allowed to play a part. ~©Therese Taylor-Stinson 2009.
12/31,2009, at 11:54
January 1, 2010, Happy New Year!!!!--The seventh day of Kwanzaa--Faith "Imani" (ee-MAH-nee) "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." ~Hebrews 11:1 NRSV "Faith is the continual demonstration of the strength and wonder of life." ~Author Unknown "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." ~Martin Luther King, Jr. Click on the link below to view the story for today's principle: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5187510n&tag=api "You can't stand in the midst of the world and struggle for fundamental change unless, at the same time, you are standing in your own space and looking for change within." ~Howard Thurman "Habari gani?" Imani!
01/04,2010, at 11:29
Wow - what a wonderful begining for this New Year - you have given me much to "chew" over. Thanks for sharing these wonderfully inspiring words which I will use for my daily meditations in the days and daze ahead.