Tuesday's post included the following sentence; "I would view the situation as evidence of an absence of God." How can I maintain God is everything (as I do) while stating rape is evidence of an absence of God? Know this: the absence of God is an aspect of God. There is no sophistry in that statement. For confirmation, simply go to Matthew 27:46: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Forsaken; abandoned or deserted. Absence; the state of being away from a place or person. Oxford Dictionary) Did Jesus feel an absence of God (being forsaken) in any way suggest He no longer believed in God's existence? Of course not. For secularist, is your inability to see infrared light proof of it's absence, of it not existing? Of course not. So it is in that context that the phrase was used.
Saudi Arabia 8-19-16 Turkmenistan 9-7-16 Moldova 9-18-16 New Zealand 9-22-16 Czech Republic 10-10-16
Albania--Algeria--Angola--Argentina--Australia--Austria--Belarus--Bahamas--Belgium--Brazil--Bolivia--Bulgaria--Cambodia--Canada--Chile--Costa Rica--Columbia--CZECH REPUBLIC--Denmark--Ecuador--El Salvador--Finland--France--Germany--Georgia--Greece--Honduras--Hungary--India--Indonesia--Iraq--Ireland--Italy--Israel--Jamaica--Japan--Kazakhstan--Kenya--Kuwait--Kyrgyzstan--Latvia--Lithuania--Malaysia--Mexico--MOLDOVA--Netherlands--NEW ZEALAND--Pakistan--Panama--Peru--Philippines--Poland--Portugal--Qatar--Romania--Russia--SAUDI ARABIA--Serbia--Singapore--Slovakia--Spain--South Africa--South Korea--Sweden--Switzerland--Suriname--Taiwan--Tanzania--Thailand--Tunisia--TURKMENISTAN--Turkey--United Arab Emirate--Ukraine--United Kingdom--United States--Venezuela--Vietnam--Zambia--Zimbabwe
The list astonishes me.
Friday, October 14, 2016
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Confined to Quarters
I have been under a self-imposed timeout. The (never ending) political season sometimes gets the best of me. Violating the first of the 10 Suggestions (Thou shall relax. I've got things covered.) often leads to self-examination; do I sit back or act? Is this a case of John Dewey's quote being applicable, (Men have never fully used the powers they possess to advance the good in life because they have waited upon some power external to themselves, and to nature, to do the work they are responsible for doing.) or is it a case of simply watching sanity unspool? Do I need to describe the political dynamic in my country that so offends me? That is the antithesis of who I am and what I stand for?
I am still unsure. The larger issue is why I concern myself. The easy answer is, I care. But at the fundamental core of my being, aren't I demonstrating an unwillingness to accept a possible election outcome? That one party's candidate is so offensive to me that I find myself actively opposing him on social media? And using ridicule and disbelief to counter the opinion of others? (although in fairness, linking the opinion and facts I am sharing) I am not sure this is the best reflection of me. Nor do I believe that it brings out the "better angels of our (my) nature."
There is this as well: If I saw a rape in progress, I would immediately do what I could to stop it. There wouldn't be any introspection of motives or a course of action. I wouldn't be waiting to see a manifestation of God in the event. I would view the situation as evidence of an absence of God. A spiritual void where God needed to be infused. And how self-righteous is that point of view? Even if, in this hypothetical situation, you could support my self-righteousness, is it fair to equate the damage done to an individual being raped with the societal repercussions of a demagogue's political position? Isn't that a false comparison?
Ultimately, we do what we do. And being fair to the situation, as well as ourselves, we must keep this in mind: "Genuine confidence doesn't say, Oh well, to bad this won't work out, but I'm reconciled to the idea. Instead of that, it maintains, what seems a poor shot still hit the bulls eye." (That Man Is You ~Louis Evely) And the sole way to come to that confidence is by trusting ourselves.
(I kid you not, yesterday a "fifth" country came aboard. However, I don't want to get on that merry-go-round again. I will post about it later in the week)
I am still unsure. The larger issue is why I concern myself. The easy answer is, I care. But at the fundamental core of my being, aren't I demonstrating an unwillingness to accept a possible election outcome? That one party's candidate is so offensive to me that I find myself actively opposing him on social media? And using ridicule and disbelief to counter the opinion of others? (although in fairness, linking the opinion and facts I am sharing) I am not sure this is the best reflection of me. Nor do I believe that it brings out the "better angels of our (my) nature."
There is this as well: If I saw a rape in progress, I would immediately do what I could to stop it. There wouldn't be any introspection of motives or a course of action. I wouldn't be waiting to see a manifestation of God in the event. I would view the situation as evidence of an absence of God. A spiritual void where God needed to be infused. And how self-righteous is that point of view? Even if, in this hypothetical situation, you could support my self-righteousness, is it fair to equate the damage done to an individual being raped with the societal repercussions of a demagogue's political position? Isn't that a false comparison?
Ultimately, we do what we do. And being fair to the situation, as well as ourselves, we must keep this in mind: "Genuine confidence doesn't say, Oh well, to bad this won't work out, but I'm reconciled to the idea. Instead of that, it maintains, what seems a poor shot still hit the bulls eye." (That Man Is You ~Louis Evely) And the sole way to come to that confidence is by trusting ourselves.
(I kid you not, yesterday a "fifth" country came aboard. However, I don't want to get on that merry-go-round again. I will post about it later in the week)
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Jigsaw
I will share one idea that, as far as I know, is singular to me. (meaning I have never read, heard, or seen the metaphor before) Imagine a snowflake in comparison to snow. In this context, know that science claims there has never been two snowflakes exactly alike. Ever! Since the beginning of time, wherever it has snowed, in all the snowstorms that have ever occurred, each snowflake has been unique. Inconceivable, right? That's what God is like.
Further, if one observes a snowflake, you could watch it land and not make the declaration, "snow." Even if there were a dozen snowflakes on your front lawn, you wouldn't necessarily say, "snow." But when hundreds and thousands of snowflakes amass, then you confidently claim, "there is snow on the ground." That's what God is like.
Understand, in and of yourself, you are just an aspect of God, like a snowflake is an aspect of snow. You no more equate to being God as a snowflake equates to being snow. Yet, there is no snow without snowflakes. That's what God is like.
When you think in terms of me (snowflake) rather than we (snow) your perception is skewed. This is narcissism. Narcissism allows no room for God. It is the single snowflake declaring it is SNOW! This misperception then leads to mis-takes; as in the phrase, "take two," because you have fouled up the first scene. In this analogy, the director (God) is ever patient with you blowing a scene or misreading your lines. He knows, eventually, you will get it right. That's what God is like.
So, to recap, you are wonderfully unique. You are a miracle of singularity. As important is the understanding that the person beside you is as marvelously constructed as you are. To proclaim you are more than you are (snow) is a denial of that which you truly are. (snowflake) This is self-abnegation. It is at cross-purpose to why you exist. You are here to manifest an aspect of God. You are an important piece of an intricate puzzle. Not the puzzle, a piece. But the puzzle is incomplete without you. That's what you are like.
Further, if one observes a snowflake, you could watch it land and not make the declaration, "snow." Even if there were a dozen snowflakes on your front lawn, you wouldn't necessarily say, "snow." But when hundreds and thousands of snowflakes amass, then you confidently claim, "there is snow on the ground." That's what God is like.
Understand, in and of yourself, you are just an aspect of God, like a snowflake is an aspect of snow. You no more equate to being God as a snowflake equates to being snow. Yet, there is no snow without snowflakes. That's what God is like.
When you think in terms of me (snowflake) rather than we (snow) your perception is skewed. This is narcissism. Narcissism allows no room for God. It is the single snowflake declaring it is SNOW! This misperception then leads to mis-takes; as in the phrase, "take two," because you have fouled up the first scene. In this analogy, the director (God) is ever patient with you blowing a scene or misreading your lines. He knows, eventually, you will get it right. That's what God is like.
So, to recap, you are wonderfully unique. You are a miracle of singularity. As important is the understanding that the person beside you is as marvelously constructed as you are. To proclaim you are more than you are (snow) is a denial of that which you truly are. (snowflake) This is self-abnegation. It is at cross-purpose to why you exist. You are here to manifest an aspect of God. You are an important piece of an intricate puzzle. Not the puzzle, a piece. But the puzzle is incomplete without you. That's what you are like.
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
La Vida es Sueno
The following excerpt is from a lecture by James Russell Lowell given at the Working Men's College in London. (circa 1885) All emphasis is mine.
"There is a moral in Don Quixote, and a very profound one, whether Cervantes consciously put it there or not, and it is this: that whoever quarrels with the Nature of Things, wittingly or unwittingly, is certain to get the worst of it. The great difficulty lies in finding out what the Nature of things really and perdurably is, and the great wisdom, after we have made this discovery, or persuaded ourselves we have made it, is in accommodating our lives and actions to it as best we may or can."
I would wish you the best of it, not the worst. That is the intent of G-G-G. To 'accommodate our lives and actions' is to perceive Life as a gift. To be grateful is to employ a spiritual alchemy where we circumvent the cynicism and nihilism currently infecting the West. God is 'finding out what the Nature of things really and perdurably (permanently) is.' This is how we influence life. This is how the dreamer awakens.
"There is a moral in Don Quixote, and a very profound one, whether Cervantes consciously put it there or not, and it is this: that whoever quarrels with the Nature of Things, wittingly or unwittingly, is certain to get the worst of it. The great difficulty lies in finding out what the Nature of things really and perdurably is, and the great wisdom, after we have made this discovery, or persuaded ourselves we have made it, is in accommodating our lives and actions to it as best we may or can."
I would wish you the best of it, not the worst. That is the intent of G-G-G. To 'accommodate our lives and actions' is to perceive Life as a gift. To be grateful is to employ a spiritual alchemy where we circumvent the cynicism and nihilism currently infecting the West. God is 'finding out what the Nature of things really and perdurably (permanently) is.' This is how we influence life. This is how the dreamer awakens.
Monday, September 19, 2016
Faithless
The truth is that my work--I was going to say my mission--is to shatter the faith of men here, there, and everywhere, faith in affirmation, faith in negation, and faith in abstention in faith, and this for the sake of faith in faith itself; it is to war against all those who submit, whether it be to Catholicism, or to rationalism, or to agnosticism; it is to make all men live the life of inquietude and passionate desire.
~Miguel de Unamuno
~Miguel de Unamuno
Monday, August 29, 2016
Facta, non Verba
God has heard you and given His blessing--act! Initiate, engage, move forward. Be the physical manifestation of your prayers.
O God, thy sea is so great
And my boat is so small
Yes, yes, I know. The opening lines from Winfred Garrison's poem speaks to the heart of the matter; you are afraid. You would do all that you boast if not for...
Weigh anchor and set sail regardless. For it is said: "They that go down to the sea in ships; That do business in deep waters; These see the works of the Lord, and His wonder in the deep." (Psalm 107)
Deeds, not words, is the order of the day.
O God, thy sea is so great
And my boat is so small
Yes, yes, I know. The opening lines from Winfred Garrison's poem speaks to the heart of the matter; you are afraid. You would do all that you boast if not for...
Weigh anchor and set sail regardless. For it is said: "They that go down to the sea in ships; That do business in deep waters; These see the works of the Lord, and His wonder in the deep." (Psalm 107)
Deeds, not words, is the order of the day.
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Conscientious Objector
I recently stumbled across the amazing story of a man named Desmond Doss. It told of his service during WW II. It really doesn't seem possible any of it's true. Yet eyewitnesses, newspaper articles, a TV program, and film footage of him receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Harry Truman, says it is. I couldn't help but wonder why I hadn't heard or read anything about this man before. There was a documentary made about him in 2004, but (alas) we all know how popular documentaries are. Thankfully, a movie titled "Hacksaw Ridge" will be released this November. I don't think you need to wait that long to learn of this extraordinary man. Google him.
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