Ninety-three old Naomi Sunshine has a lesson for us all:  “We are not here to see through one another. We are here to see one another through.”
Here is some background information.
This year I had the chance to sing Gospel at Omega Institute the first week in July. It was there, that I was gifted by the visit of a 93-year-old friend. Naomi Sunshine still writes songs, sings, and plays piano. She no longer drives far. Naomi’s daughter brought her to Omega, for the afternoon, so she could spend some time with “the ol’ gang”. We have been singing with Sister Alice Martin and her brother Fatty Thomas at the keyboard for over a decade. We sing. We laugh. We cry. We rock. We gel. We raise our voices and are learning to open our hearts, minds, and spirits.
Naomi was saddened by the news of immigrant children being separated from their parents who were seeking asylum in our United States. Naomi told me, “I’ve got to do something. I’ve got to do something.” She decided to write a song. You can view Naomi playing the keyboard and singing her song on youtube. Type in “Naomi Sunshine sings her song:  We are here to help one another through.” Naomi’s request is that this song go viral. So please help make that happen. Consider your action as a belated birthday present.
Jimmy Carter, also 93 years old, once taught us: “My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have, to try to make a difference.”
It is now time to listen to these elders. I have been moved by their resilience and wisdom. I am grateful.
Here is Naomi Sunshine’s Anthem:
We are not here to judge the lives of others.
We are not here to rail against the few.
We are not here to see through, one another—
We are here to see one another through!
We are not here to brush aside the struggle,
When there is so much healing we must do—
We are not here to see through, one another—
We are here to see one another through!
There’s gotta be a way. (Oh. Yeah. Yeah.)
We’ve gotta find the way. (Oh, Yeah. Yeah.)
To help the little children—
To reunite the families.
Time to show we know what’s right and true!
If you can stand as fathers, kids, and mothers,
You’ll find a hand that’s reaching out to you.
We are not here to see through, one another—
We are here to see one another through!
There’s gotta be a way. (Oh. Yeah. Yeah.)
We’ve gotta find the way. (Oh, Yeah. Yeah.)
To help the teens, the babies—
No ifs, ands, buts, or maybes.
Now’s the time to do what we must do!
We are here as sisters, friends, and brothers.
Yes we are here to show what votes can do!
We are not here to see through, one another.
We are here. Yes. We are here.
Let’s start right here to see one another through!
Patricia Heather-Lea
Bristol