February 5, 2016 – From Sr. Barbara Wincik

I am amazed at the days in February we are celebrating something ‒ everything from National Pancake Day to National Sleep Day. Oh I forgot Valentine’s Day. Probably the most noteworthy is the celebration of the 49 th anniversary of the Beatles coming to the United States. But I am dating myself on that one. Seriously, the month of February focuses on Black History. How much we can learn from those of color and all they have given to this nation; and at times with no credit given to their literature or inventions or public stances. I was touched on Martin Luther King Jr. Day hearing his voice during his “dream” speech on a recording, once lost and now found. Here is an excerpt that carries much meaning for the times we are currently living. We have learned to fly the air like birds and swim the sea like fish, but we have not learned the simple art of living together as brothers. Every man lives in two realms, the internal and the external. The internal is that realm of spiritual ends expressed in art, literature, morals and religion. The external is that complex of devices. And in the hearts of men, we will come to that great and glad day when men all over the world will be able to join hands, black men and white men, Jews and gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, Hindus and Muslims, and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, free at last, free at last. Thank God all mighty, we are free at last. Do we continue to look the other way, to say “what can I do?” or ignore the gifts that God has given us through others without discriminating the color of skin, religious background or ethnic background? We have many challenges before us as people of God. The road to freedom that King speaks to is not an easy one. It calls us to open our awareness, our understanding and our hearts.