RISE, A Modern Guide for the Purpose Driven Woman Summer 2014 | Page 44

system but it’s one that doesn’t escape me as I lay my infant son down to bed every night and I think of Fiona; hundreds of miles away from her infant son; guilty really of nothing more than I was accused. As you can well imagine, having a history like mine and having these stories which are of actual human beings whom I spent time with…literally “did time” with, lived with…tormenting my every thought…I most definitely am in need of some mental Zen. I have found myself recently going back to my college readings of Kahlil Gibran. I thought it might be fitting to leave you with an excerpt then of what he had to say on “Crime & Punishment”… “…Oftentimes have I heard you speak of one who commits a wrong as though he were not one of you, but a stranger unto you and an intruder upon your world. But I say that even as the holy and the righteous cannot rise beyond the highest which is in each one of you, So the wicked and the weak cannot fall lower than the lowest which is in you also. And as a single leaf turns not yellow but with the silent knowledge of the whole tree, So the wrong-doer cannot do wrong without the hidden will of you all. Like a procession you walk together towards your god-self. You are the way and the wayfarers. And when one of you falls down he falls for those behind him, a caution against the stumbling stone. Ay, and he falls for those ahead of him, who though faster and surer of foot, yet removed not the stumbling stone.” Kahlil Gibran “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” Martin Luther King, Jr. Together we will remove some stones that others may stumble upon and try to remember we are all leaves of the same tree. Join the conversation on twitter @hedydicarlo Have a wonderful summer and be sure to check the website womenwhorise.org for some exciting announcements about my #calltoaction this summer! [email protected]