Best Day Yet!!

"Each time a man strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." -Robert F. Kennedy

I thought about this as I ran. I thought about the giant Walk to Stop Child Trafficking Now that is happening all over the world on September 27. I thought about the Giant worldwide carwash being hosted by Love146 an organization which rescues girls from slavery. I thought about the Global Forum on Human Trafficking hosted by Not for Sale aimed at educating the public and implimenting plans to end slavery, and the UNGIFT’s work on the research of slavery, or "Invisible Childrens" efforts to free the 3000 Child soldiers in Uganda. In my mind I saw Carmen Morris the founder of the Sanctuary of Moses and her work bringing education and freedom to African children, there are so many great people, doing great things.

Today as I ran, I passed a red car. After seeing in four different places I started to get worried that it was following me. I was right. I came face to face with Jack the owner of Crabby J’s Seasoning. Courageously I asked him what he was doing, and to my surprise he responded "I found out about what you were doing, so I’ve been driving ahead of you and telling everyone in all the businesses that a guy is running 500 mile to tell the world about modern day slavery". What a great guy!

Though no one person can end slavery alone, together all of us can end slavery together. Together you and I, with all our tiny ripple of hope can bring freedom to the world.

Emancipation Day

Exactly 175 years ago today, all the slaves in the british colonies were liberated marking the beginning of an annual celebration which would  cross over boundaries of nations and cultures - Emancipation Day it was called. Even in America which still held over 4 million slaves, this celebration,  charged with the yearning of the millions of slaves and abolitionists, was a spark of light in the push for America to TRULY be the land of the free. Finally the emancipation was signed by Abraham Lincoln which marked the first step toward American freedom from slavery which wasn’t fully realized until the signing of the 13th amendment 3 years later.

Today I started the Run 4 The Rescue in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial, with an amazing line up of people who have dedicated their lives to bring freedom to people around the world.

Kenneth Morris- great, great, great, grandson of Frederick Douglass and founder of the Frederick Douglass Family Foundation.

Marcia Dyson - Hailed as one of Americas most formost spiritual writers and a  human rights activists whose compassion spans the globe in causes from Modern day slavery to the environment.

Carmen Morris - The visionary leader who founded the Sanctuary of Moses to bring educational opportunities to the children of Benin, Africa and help them ecape the risks that would make them prime targets for human trafficking.

here are my 5 lessons for the day:

1. This was told to me by one of the gangster looking guys in a rough part of town - "Be safe"
2. You’re welcome to look away in embarrassment from me while I run in chains(of course that’s for those who think I’m crazy or something), but I’m embarrassed for all those who look away from the cause of modern slavery.
3. switching gear at the last minute can lead to some uncomfortable situations…
4. While two guys I met were arguing about Booker T Washington and FRederick Douglass having diametrically opposite beliefs in some aspects of the best future for Black america, I couldn’t help but chuckle that this didn’t stop their offspring from finding common ground enough to get married and bring about the fabulous life known as Kenneth B Morris Jr. The point is that celebrating unity is way more wonderful than squabbling over differences.
5. Thank People. I feel such gratitude for all those who have or are helping me, praying for me, and supporting me in this labor or love. Thanks to all of you!

Eric

The AMAZING video night!

I had a wonderful experience this past week - besides celebrating my 10th wedding anniversary with my sweet lovely wife! On Wednesday night I had the opportunity to speak to my friends an neighbors here in Salt Spring Island and further spread the news about Human Trafficking at an Amazing Grace video presentation.

Over the last few weeks of training, I’ve noticed that most reactions to my extremely hard-to-ignore bling while jogging fall into 3 categories.
1. Those who are amazed
2. Those who are amused
3. Those who think I’m absolutely wacko!

This wonderful crowd was so rewarding because these people got it! they got up off their couches, dusted off the potato chips (Oh wait, this isn’t oklahoma, this is Salt spring - they put down their organic carrot sticks and goat cheese) and came to find out more about the most underfunded human rights catastrophe of our time. Thank you SO much to Sandy Oliver who organized the night and thank as well to all of you who are putting your money where your hearts are to run 4 the rescue of those victims who deserve the freedoms we take so much for granted.