You Can’t Hold Back the Spring*, by Ayla Volpe, a film about the late Dr. Reverend Robert Seymour, minister and civil rights activist
Have you ever experienced moments of uncertainty wondering where your life was taking you?
In 2016, Ayla Volpe was in an extremely vulnerable space with illness and feelings of despondency. However, as a woman of faith, she beseeched God, or what some might call a Higher Power, or Universe to either let her leave this life or show her signs for what she should do next. Her deepest desire since 2013 had been to do a documentary on the role of religious leaders during the turbulent 60’s and 70’s in the South, especially as related to civil rights. So, after her rough patch subsided a bit, a friend suggested that she take a job assisting the elderly.
She decided to do this and unbeknownst to her was assigned to walk the notable Reverend Robert Seymour’s dog, Pastor, twice a day. One day, he invited her in for a conversation related to Pastor. Much to her surprise, she discovered that he had played a significant role in Chapel Hill, NC during the civil rights movement. A friendship blossomed.
His passion and life stories from his book, Whites Only, originally entitled,”You Can’t Hold Back the Spring”, intrigued and inspired her so much as to ask him if she could do a documentary on his remarkable life. He said yes! With no prior experience, she took the leap of faith and her life took on a course she could have only dreamed of before.
Listen as Ayla shares her 3 and a half year journey, with marked enthusiasm. With your open heart, take note of her describing a dream taking shape with so many lessons learned and serendipitous turns along the way. Her trust that the Universe had her back while this documentary was in process and that it would be completed, supplied her with miracles, people, resources, and so much more.
Even getting together today to record this Podcast was a miracle!
*Her film, You Can’t Hold Back the Spring, will soon be available and will be shared in our weekly PeacePodcast.org newsletter.
