Advertise on podcast: Community of Goodness

There’s nothing more sacred and precious than the love we have for our daughters and granddaughters.   Filled with poetry, beauty, and goodness, they take us beyond who we truly are.  Helping us grow and mature.  Becoming our teachers, our guides, our mentors, and our love.    Featured songs: Sweet Lura Rose | Words & Music by Larry Long | Copyright Larry Long 1991 BMI;  I Believe in You | Words & Music by Larry Long (Adapted from Psalms 139) | Copyright Larry Long 1996 BMI |  Liliana | Words & music by Larry Long | Copyright Larry Long 2007 BMI. 

Service Is Love Made Visible Isn’t it true that we’re reliant upon the service and love of other people every day?  Isn’t this what we have learned throughout the pandemic?   People going to work, caring for us, and providing the very necessities we need to stay alive.  Service is love made visible.   Featured Songs:  My Love for You | Words & music by Larry Long | Copyright Larry Long 2018 BMI: If You Love Someone | Words & music by Larry Long | Copyright Larry Long 2018 BMI. 

Faith is an ordinary virtue that you and I experience all the time.   We have faith in the people we put trust in.  Through the love from others, we learn to love them because we have faith in them. We’re in rough waters right now in America.   So, let’s sit a little closer and put our faith in each other’s goodness.  Featured songs:  St. Francis | Words & Music by Larry Long | Copyright Larry Long 2022 BMI;  We Thank You  | Words & music by Larry Long | Copyright Larry Long 2022 BMI; Dr. Massey | Words & Music by Larry Long | Copyright Larry Long 1976; Renewed 2022 BMI;  Amazing Grace | Words by John Newton | Music: Traditional.   

A lot of people are going through hard times today.  Our job is to be witnesses to hope. To keep the light on for those who are traveling in darkness.  Isn’t it comforting when traveling down rural roads late at night to go by a farmhouse and see one back porch light on just in case you are in trouble?  How is that we can provide light and hope for others?  Even in a weakened state hope can redeem the human race and all of creation. Now more than ever we need to be witnesses to hope.  Featured songs:  Your Love | Words & Music by Larry Long| Copyright Larry Long 1986 BMI;  I Am the Water | Words & Music by Larry Long | Copyright Larry Long 1991 BMI.  

Courage comes from the French word cœur, which means heart.  How is the condition of your heart?  Is your heart in it?  What are the things you know by heart?  What are the stories you will tell today that are heartfelt? Are you still tenderhearted, or warmhearted? We meet so many people today who are hardhearted, or coldhearted.  More importantly there are  so many people who are brokenhearted.  Take care of your heart.  It’s the source of our courage. Featured Songs:  Run for Freedom |  Words & Music by Larry Long with Standing Rock Youth & Elders from the Oceti Sakowin Nation |  Copyright Larry Long Publishing 1981 BMI | Tree of Life | Words & Music by Larry Long |  Copyright Larry Long 2011 BMI.  

New York Times Journalist and Author Thomas Friedman has a marvelous book called, “Thank You for Being Late.”   In that book Friedman reminds us that we must learn to live in the eye of the hurricane.  What’s in the eye of the hurricane?  Calm, stillness, quiet.  Yet, from within that space we can draw energy from the storm so we can be dynamic and stable in responding to the lives of each other.  He goes on to say that the best analogue for the eye of the hurricane is a healthy community, where people feel protected, respected, and connected. A place we all call home.  Featured songs:  Every time I Look at Someone (Honoring Clara Beebe) | Words & Music by Larry Long with Youth & Elders from Lac Courte Oreilles Anishinabe Nation |  Copyright Larry Long 1999 BMI;  Eyes of My Father | Words & Music by Larry Long 2011 BMI:  Grandpa’s Song | Words & Music by Larry Long | Copyright Larry Long 1992 BMI

Hospitality is predicated in generosity.  Generosity is predicated in gratitude.   You won’t give people the time of day unless you have a generous spirit.  Be generous with our kindness. Be generous with our patience.  Be generous with our compassion.  May we all have the courage to create a hospitable world where all are welcome.  Featured songs:   Why Not Me Lord (Honoring Gladius Milton) | Words & Music by Larry Long with Children from Rural Alabama | Copyright Larry Long Publishing 1996 BMI ;  Lucky Jacob (For my son Jacob Amos Keith Long) | Words & music by Larry Long | Copyright Larry Long 1989 BMI .   

Wisdom is paying attention to the good stuff.  Not all old people are wise, but all wise people are old.  Age gives us an opportunity to look back to discern what is good, what is important, and what is significant.  That is why we look towards our elders for their wisdom, to point us in a direction, to give us a new calibration, to remind us of what is good, what is right, and what is just.  Whatever you pay attention to, you get more of, so why not pay attention to the good stuff.  Featured songs:  Love of Life | Words & Music by Larry Long | Copyright Larry Long 2011, BMI; Grandmother’s Home | Words & Music by Larry Long | Copyright Larry Long 2021, BMI;  Chicky Chicky Boom |  Words & Music by Larry Long  2000, BMI

Friendship is a sweet gift. Friends are people who have our best interest in mind.  Friends enjoy being in each other’s company.  Friends are people who join together for the common good.  We do so much more good together then we could ever do alone.  Friends wish each other well.  A friend takes joy in your success because friendship is truly the basis of community.  Featured songs:  Building Community | Words & Music by Larry Long | Copyright Larry Long 1996  BMI;  Mississippi Queens | Words & Music by Larry Long | Copyright Larry Long 1976 BMI;  Michael | Words & Music by Larry Long | Copyright Larry Long 1981 BMI

Ever see a hospital built by cynics anonymous?  No, it’s good people who join together to do good work every day.  Wherever I go I meet good people who want to help me, serve me, and make my life a little bit better.  Isn’t it true that we reap what we sow?  If we are good, kind, and thoughtful it comes back to us.  If we are mean and cynical that comes back to us as well.  Let’s sow goodness and help make this world a little bit better one good deed at a time.  Thanks for all you do.  Featured songs:   Well May The World Go | Words by Pete Seeger | Melody from Weel May the Keel Row | Copyright Pete Seeger  1973, BMI; In My Neighborhood | Words & music by Larry Long | Copyright Larry Long 1991; Renewed 2022, BMI;  My Old Friend | Words & music by Larry Long | Copyright Larry Long 2016, BMI.