Tuesday, April 30, 2013
All of Creation......
.......is filled with the presence of God. If God is love, then we are swimming in divine love if we but open our eyes, minds and hearts.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Difficult, but true....
I tried this today.....mixed results, but I know it was the right course of action.
Whoops! Two Wars and a bankrupt nation later........
Sandra Day O'Connor Doubts Decision To Take Bush V. Gore
Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor expressed doubt Friday about the decision to take the 2000 Bush v. Gore case that resulted in the election of President George W. Bush.
"It took the case and decided it at a time when it was still a big election issue," O'Connor told the Chicago Tribune editorial board in an interview. "Maybe the court should have said, 'We're not going to take it, goodbye.'"
The Huffington Post | By Luke Johnson
Read the rest HERE
Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor expressed doubt Friday about the decision to take the 2000 Bush v. Gore case that resulted in the election of President George W. Bush.
"It took the case and decided it at a time when it was still a big election issue," O'Connor told the Chicago Tribune editorial board in an interview. "Maybe the court should have said, 'We're not going to take it, goodbye.'"
The Huffington Post | By Luke Johnson
Read the rest HERE
When I was young.....
......one of the first things I wanted "to be" when I grew up was a teacher. When I see the mess made of this noble profession by politicians and "teach the test" poohbahs, I'm so very glad I changed my mind! Teachers should have their salaries doubled and congress theirs halved!
Catholic leaders using Communion as a weapon in the culture wars
Polling shows that ex-Catholics are the third largest religious group in the United States. Many Catholic laity are experiencing a painful disconnect between the official teachings and pronouncements of the Catholic hierarchy and what they believe in their hearts. It’s no wonder they are voting with their feet.
The Detroit Free Press recently reported on comments made by Edward Peters, who teaches Catholic canon law and was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010 to advise the top judicial authority in the Catholic Church.
Peters stated that Catholic teaching makes it clear that marriage is between one man and one woman. He goes on to write, “Catholics who promote ‘same-sex marriage’ act contrary to ‘Catholic law’ and should not approach for holy Communion…They also risk having holy Communion withheld from them…being rebuked and/or being sanctioned.”
Read the full article about this disgraceful practice HERE
By Gene Robinson, "The Washington Post"
The Detroit Free Press recently reported on comments made by Edward Peters, who teaches Catholic canon law and was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010 to advise the top judicial authority in the Catholic Church.
Peters stated that Catholic teaching makes it clear that marriage is between one man and one woman. He goes on to write, “Catholics who promote ‘same-sex marriage’ act contrary to ‘Catholic law’ and should not approach for holy Communion…They also risk having holy Communion withheld from them…being rebuked and/or being sanctioned.”
Read the full article about this disgraceful practice HERE
By Gene Robinson, "The Washington Post"
Sunday, April 28, 2013
A prayer at evening
If I could stop the wings of change.......I will remember all the love we shared today.
A Poet's Prayer
“Forgive me my nonsense as I also forgive the nonsense of those who think they talk sense.”
― Robert Frost
My bags are packed
Sunny warm Italy is a good dream on a chilly rain filled afternoon. One last song for the road on this Schmaltzy Sunday.
OK, It's Schmaltzy Music Sunday......
.....love this man, love this song!
Cold, raining and dreary in Charlotte-Hope the sun is shining on you!
love one another
John 13:31-35
At the last supper, when Judas had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
Why do we get this so wrong? Are you aware of the despicable antics of the Westboro Baptist Church? It's only fair that I confess my own difficulty in loving people like the members of the WBC. Yet it is exactly that to which we are called. It's easy to love loving people. The challenge is to love those who repel us; those who hate us; those who make it their aim to cause us harm. I'm not saying we shouldn't fight them with all our might, but perhaps it is the beginning of love to NOT resort to their tactics. If we fight hatred with love, "...everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." I'm not naïve, I know this seems a most impossible task. I like Mother Theresa's saying that a smile is the beginning of love. Maybe that's a way to start.
I dislike driving immensely. Few other parts of our daily routine bring to the fore the selfishness, recklessness and discourtesy of others. It's a good thing I'm usually alone behind the wheel; because I cuss like the proverbial drunken sailor. I'm not proud of this behavior, but I am truly my father's son when it comes to temper and the use of profanity. One day last week, after an especially vitriolic outburst, I thought of conducting an experiment. Instead of cursing offending motorists, I simply said God bless every time someone trespassed against the laws of the road. I was surprised that after a while, my mood had lightened and my blood pressure fell. I discovered that by responding to the inappropriate behavior of others with a wish for their wellbeing, my own wellbeing was served. I know this is a silly little example, but it made me think that other aspects of life might be similarly impacted.
Perhaps, by so doing (making the effort to be more loving) we get closer to the place Jesus told the disciples "you cannot come." A place of calm, peace and yes, love.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Just Pathetic
Keep electing Republicans who want to destroy the Affordable Care Act and we'll be a third world country in no time!
Have you ever made a list.....
....of the things that make you happy? I'm not talking about pricey, big, shinny store bought things, but the ordinary everyday kind of happiness. I guess at the top of my list would be Christmas trees. Even in the woods, uncut and pristine I can decorate (in my mind) a tree that has offended in no way other than to be caught in my line of vision. I especially like the kind of evergreens with gaps between their branches and that are perhaps a bit asymmetrical. Oh yeah, and I love the sunlight at 4pm or so in September. Bathing the world in it's vesper light, I'm left breathless and filled with a contentment I can't put into words. Have you seen a bluebird? Oh my heart leaps at the rare sightings of these beautiful birds. One morning a few weeks ago, I saw two in the parking lot at work when I was waiting in my car, listening to the radio postponing the inevitable. My heart sang at that moment, despite their flying away far too soon leaving me with the inevitable reality of getting out of my car and heading work-ward.
I'm not sure what brought these things or the nature of happiness to mind....perhaps I need Christmas trees, September sunlight and bluebirds today to hold onto the fragile threads of "keeping it together-land". Such perhaps are the thoughts of a gloomy Saturday when I so desperately need the sun.....such are the ravages of change....or does "nothing change"?
YOU MUST LISTEN TO THE SONG AT THE END OF THIS LINK.....IT MADE ME HAPPIER-MAY IT BE SO FOR YOU!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqRxi6G7Dro&feature=share&list=RD02M0dnGh5Em4Y
Beautiful, Beautiful
Many years ago, I saw a documentary about a stone-age tribe (heaven knows their condition after contact with our culture/society, but I digress) whose entire wedding ceremony was for the tribe to gather at the dwelling of the new couple and standing at the entrance repeat the word "Beautiful, Beautiful". I believe when any two people find one another and fall in love, God stands at the entrance of their hearts whispering "Beautiful, Beautiful".
Love one another as I have loved you.
John 15:12
For when I was hungry.....
If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
James 2:15-17
Friday, April 26, 2013
The wisdom of silence....
"The most beautiful thing which a person can say about God would be for that person to remain silent from the wisdom of an inner wealth. So, be silent and quit flapping your gums about God." - Meister Eckhart (1260-1329)
I sat on my glasses yesterday......
.....and today the world looked so much nicer, kinder and more beautiful......go figure?
Why sing?
"Singing is sweet; but be sure of this,
Lips only sing when they cannot kiss."
-James Thomson
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
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