Greetings of love and gratitude from
Judy Carman
Cesar Chavez Day is tomorrow, March 31.
Cesar is best known for founding the United Farm Workers and
leading laborers to stand up for their rights through non-violent
means. He was strongly influenced by St. Francis and Gandhi and
dedicated his life to economic and social justice, civil rights, and
peace. His legacy continues to inspire people all over the world.
But not everyone knows or remembers that he also was a voice for
animals. He understood that animal rights and human rights are
inseparable. One cannot be achieved without the other. He
was vegan for nearly 25 years. He did not hold back about his
passion for non-violence toward animals. He spoke often to his
followers about the importance of compassion for all life.
In Defense of Animals gave him a
Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992. In his acceptance
speech, Chávez proclaimed, “We need, in a special way, to work twice as
hard to make all people understand that animals are fellow creatures,
that we must protect them and love them as we love ourselves. And
that’s the basis for peace. . . We cannot hope to have peace until we
respect everyone; respect ourselves and respect animals and all living
things…We know we cannot defend and be kind to animals until we stop
exploiting them: exploiting them in the name of science, exploiting
animals in the name of sport, exploiting animals in the name of
fashion, and yes, exploiting animals in the name of food.”
A Prayer of Gratitude for this week:
We give thanks for Cesar Chavez and the many courageous people who have
laid the foundation for today’s animal liberation movement and shown
the world that humanity’s longing for peace will only be fulfilled when
we stop violence toward all life. Their passion and vision fills
us with strength and hope for this work. Divine Love lives in
every heart, and because of that, we know that one day all beings will
be free and happy and at peace. As we breathe deeply and really feel
the support and strength and courage of Chavez and all those who have
gone before us, we sense in our hearts the joy that is coming.
And we send this shared feeling, this vision, and this divine and
unconditional love that is flowing through us out to all animals
everywhere. And so it is.
As always, with tears of gratitude, I send my thanks to each of you,
dear Prayer Circle members, for joining this circle of compassion and
shining the Light of Truth for all to see, so that one day soon, all
beings will live in peace together.
May compassion and love reign over all the earth for all beings
everywhere.
Thank you all for your devotion to truth, love, liberation and peace
for all beings.
With Love, peace, and gratitude from Judy Carman, and greetings from
Will, Madeleine, Tara and the Circle of Compassion team
If you haven’t already done so, please join us at the Prayer Circle for
Animals
Facebook page. You can share ideas and prayer requests
there. These updates will be posted on Facebook and on
www.circleofcompassion.org so that you can share them if you
wish. Thank you.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/prayercircleforanimals
To support our work and help us expand this ministry, please go to
http://circleofcompassion.org/donations.html
