Beauty and the Mess . . . (10 16 2015)

     So here I am again – on my screenless porch – with my coffee – and Rocky – and two MORE puppies. (Puppy sitting for a couple of days). 
     (Well, one puppy, the littlest one, Cissy, is hunkered down in her crate in the living room – free to come and go as she pleases – except she pleases to stay in it most of the time. The Vet told my daughter she had a scar on her head indicating head trauma so we think she was abused before my daughter got her. Cissy is uncomfortable with new places/people.)
     The beauty of the morning, though chilly, touches me. Soon I will be taking my morning coffee/meditation inside next to the fireplace but for now I am still enjoying these outdoor mornings.
     The beauty of my world – the people, the places, the things and times of my life – overwhelm me with gratitude. My little corner of the world has been so safe, secure, and lovely – mostly. And I think of the many more physically beautiful places on this earth – most of which I will never see. Except in TV documentaries.
     The beauty – and the mess – of the world . . .
     Once again – this thought overwhelms me and my heart squeezes and pushes water from my eyes. I wish, somehow I could "fix it" -- the mess, I mean.
     Silly me. Well, they don’t call me W.O.W.(*), for nuthin’, you know.

* * * * *

     I watched Oprah on the Stephen Colbert Show (or whatever he calls it now) last night. I have always perceived her to be a great role model and example. Based on the few programs of hers I have seen and the snippets of her life I have read.

     Last night she and Stephen teased each other a bit, as you would expect. She laughingly referred to herself as "the preacher girl" which she told him was her nickname as a youngster because she was always spouting scripture.
     I get the impression – rightly or wrongly – that Oprah herself is a Christian. But through her experiences and opportunities has been exposed to many influential people of all sorts of beliefs. And that she has found common ground in many of these belief systems.
     Kind of what I have experienced, as well. Growing up Christian but in adulthood getting to know folks of various persuasions – Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Jews, Buddhists, Atheists.

* * * * *

     The beauty and the logic of God . . .  I/we can’t really comprehend it, can we? All these nations. All these peoples. All this religion. All this fighting – so often over religion. Or the lack thereof.
     Gets complicated. For me, maybe, but not for God.
     Seems to me it starts with where you are born. America during my lifetime has been, mostly, a Christian leaning country. My parents were Christian, most everyone I knew until adulthood attended Christian churches. So it’s understandable for me to have embraced their beliefs initially. But as I grew up and studied the Bible for myself, it still made sense to me and I have continued to embrace its teachings, even as I have been exposed to and compared various other persuasions.
     But what about all these folks in other countries – Japan, India, Iraq, Israel, Turkey, Greece. Etcetera, etcetera. Such contradiction. Such conflict. Who’s right? Who’s wrong?
     I can’t figure it out. I can’t solve it. And my soul hurts for all the pain and anguish that these conflicting beliefs produce in the world. The fighting, the wars.
     I can’t solve this. But then God reminds me – it’s not YOUR problem; it’s MINE. MY job. And the pain in my heart subsides once more. 

* * * * *

     We are ALL His children. It doesn’t matter whether we’re born in Iran or Italy or Japan or . . .  Hoboken . . .  :)
     We likely start out believing what our parents tell us to believe. Inch by inch we start thinking for ourselves. Sometimes we embrace our parents’ beliefs, sometimes not. Whatever. If we are seeking God, He will find us.
     He takes us wherever He finds us and brings us to where we need to be.
     All we have to do is seek His will . . . and follow.
Blessings!
Sarah　
(*) Kids = Wacky Old Woman
      Me   =  Wise Old Woman　
　
　

　

　

　

　

One of These Is Not Like the Other . . .

National Religion ???

Okay, Folks – Evil Twin reporting in here --I’m just gonna come out and say it –

If this IS, in fact, a “Christian” nation, then we have to repeal the First Amendment.

If that’s what we want, we can make Christianity the country’s religion.  There have been countries with national religions.  Japan was and still is mostly Shinto, China mostly Buddhist.  England’s national church was once The Church of England, India’s national religion was/is Hindu.

And then, it would probably be a good idea – if we wish to maintain this purity – to pass legislation that ONLY Christians be allowed to immigrate.  If we choose to pass laws to this effect, if that’s what the majority want, we can do this.  It would be perfectly legal.

HOWEVER . . .

From our country’s founding til now – that isn’t the kind of country we have set up nor aspired to be.  We have welcomed people from all countries, all backgrounds, all religions, or no religion. And told them they can be citizens of our country.

Like The Lady says: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

But -- for the sake of this argument -- let’s say we DO decide to do this.  The majority of us want to be a “Christian” nation, and we repeal the First Amendment.

The next thing we MUST do – IMMEDIATELY – is change our behavior.  Drastically.

First and foremost we would have to get rid of the humongous military complex and portion of our national budget that goes to fund bombs and submarines and planes and guns and ammunition – you know, weapons of mass destruction.

And then – we have to use that money to “bomb” our enemies with food and medicine and building supplies and send doctors and nurses and medicines and teachers and construction workers to administer the aid.

And then – we need to “bombard” the News Worldwide with pictures and updates – daily – of what we are doing.

And then – when they ask why, tell them – “Jesus sent me.”

* * * * *

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”
– Matthew 5:44

* * * * *

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
– Chronicles 7:14

* * * * *

Personally, I wouldn’t really have a problem with that.  Being a Christian, I mean; albeit a “liberal” one.  As in because my faith is precious to me, I recognize/acknowledge the same for others.  My faith  has sustained me through good times and bad.  God is as close to me as my prayer, my thought.  I believe He walks with me every day of my life. He has blessed and protected me and my family mightily.

So if we DO decide to repeal the first amendment and this becomes a nation of Christians in reality/fact, it wouldn’t disrupt my life much at all.

Others, on the other hand, might find the results rather daunting.

Blessings!

Sarah

BOMBardment!

I wrote this back in 2003 in my journal.  It seems timely to post it now.

Journal Entry
1/11/2003

Well, isn’t this special.

This wacky, old, liberal lady may not be so wacky, after all.

Before the bombing of Afghanistan, I sent messages to liberal members of Congress asking them to exert their influence to prevent bombing with “bomb” bombs.  Surprise, surprise; no one listened.  AFTER the bombing, I sent messages to all members of Congress I could find E-mail addresses for.  Some came back “undeliverable”.  No one really paid any attention.  Who needs to listen to wacky, old, liberal ladies, anyway.

Briefly, my suggestion was this:

1) “Bomb” Afghanistan with food, medicine, and supplies and send people with skills to teach them how to work their land, etc., etc.  Strictly humanitarian aid.  In whatever form necessary.  BLITZ them with it.  NOTHING ELSE.

2) BLAST the message of what we are doing to TV stations by satellite INTERNATIONALLY.  Over and over. Sound bites. Several times a day.  Just like we do in our political campaigns.

The ads would vary but basically would say, “Look, World.  This is what “the great Satan” does.  These are the acts of ‛the great Satan’.  Here are the pictures.  Now look at what bin Laden does.  Here are the pictures.  Who is really ‛the great Satan?’  You decide.”

Over and over.  Day after day. 3-4-5 times a day.

As the campaign continued, updated pictures of the people getting the food, the medicine, the training would continued to blitz the TV news stations ALL OVER THE WORLD.

THIS IS THE ONLY ATTACK ON AFGHANISTAN that should have been made.

Of course the Suits, the Super-Stars, the Movers and Shakers, the Influential Folks of Washington did not listen.  Not that I really expected them to.  But then, miracles DO happen, so you’ve got to try.  Besides, “speaking your mind” is one of the things America is all about.

Now we are planning to go to war against Saddam Hussein and “bomb” Iraq.  What he has to do with Nine/Eleven -- which is nothing -- is irrationally irrelevant.

So the wacky, old, liberal lady speaks again.

In her opinion, she always bases her opinions on 1) as much knowledge as she has at the time (which may or may not be enough, and is why she may change her mind), and 2) common sense/logic.

Trying to put herself in Saddam Hussein’s place, she tries to imagine what she would do if confronted with his situation.  And decides--since she can’t ask him-- that it is a reasonable assumption to believe he LOVES his life the way it has been going and would like it to continue.  If only those evil Americans will leave him alone to do his thing.  She believes he knows if he DOES get “weapons of mass destruction” up and running and uses them, SPLAT, he’s toast.  He and his country would be obliterated off the face of the earth.  He’s  evil, not stupid.

BUT, if he is CONVINCED we are going to get him, he has nothing to lose, so he’ll take out some of--or all of--the rest of us.  Probably has the bombs in place in the bunkers; nuclear bombs and/or biological bombs and/or chemical bombs.  We bomb them, we ALL are toast.

This is NOT rocket science, folks.  Sixty-four-year old wacky, liberal ladies don’t understand rocket science.  Not this one, anyway.

Fast forward to January 2003.  In particular, 1/10/03,   N.P.T.’s broadcast last night of Bill Meyer’s “NOW” program.  Interviewing Howard Zinn, author and historian at Boston University, his latest book being, “Terrorism & War.”

I cannot believe what I am hearing.

According to Howard Zinn (assuming he is stating the truth), the CIA has publicly stated the one thing that would cause Saddam Hussein to use his “weapons of mass destruction” -- IF he has them --  would be if we attack him.

What???

************
This learned man continues.  He is not a pacifist.  The Sadam Husseins and bin Ladens of the world must be dealt with, he believes.  Through negotiations.  And America must change from a military super power to a humanitarian super power.

Hey! Bet he would LOVE my idea for “bombing” Afghanistan.  Of course, it’s too late for that.  In October 2001 we further decimated a country already devastated by other wars, other dictators.

Oh, well, maybe next time.

With respect to the actual bombing of Afghanistan, which was totally ineffective, of course, since the stated purpose was to “get bid Laden”, Mr. Zinn compared what we did there to this scenario:

“There is a terrorist hiding in Boston, let’s bomb Boston and maybe we’ll get him.”

Why it takes a learned historian from Boston University to state the obvious, I don’t know, but I will restate his position on the bombing of Iraq:

“If we bomb Iraq, we will be killing the victims of Saddam Hussein.”

Hooray for us!
********
Bill asked him why he is so opposed to war.

In World War II he was a bomber, flew in the B17 bomber, and bombed the hell out of whatever target his commander selected for that day’s run.  From 6000 feet in the air, you don’t see people, you don’t see heads blown off, arms torn off, bleeding, dying real life people, writhing in agony and pain, dying by the thousands, or maimed for life if you happen to survive.

You see a target, a spot.  And you obliterate it.  Or maybe the one next to it.  So you missed by one degree.  Too bad.  “I understand the banality of war.  They’re the bad guys, we’re the good guys.  War brutalizes everyone involved.”

Bombing the blazes out of a country, only creates more problems.

The turning point for him, he said, was at the end of the war.  The war was actually over but there were a few skirmishes, loose ends to tie up.  His squadron was deployed to Orien, France.  There was a pocket of German prisoners--young men, of course; every country sends their best and strongest--being held in this town.  They had fought valiantly for their cause, just as we had done, but they got caught.  The U.S. military sent 1200 bombers--that’s

o n e  t h o u s a n d  t w o  h u n d r e d  k I I l I n g  m a c h I n e s –

to destroy these few thousand prisoners.

It just happened that they obliterated the entire town of several thousand people in the process.

“And that’s when I started hating war,” he said.

******
Whether or not there is life after death or not, we really won’t know until we get there.  Some believe when it’s over, it’s over.  This life is all there is.  Others of us believe we are eternal beings and life continues in some form after we shed this earthly shell.

I’ve spent a lifetime studying the Bible and other religious/spiritual books.  I’ve listened, and continue to listen, to well-known religious leaders of all persuasions.  The ones that impress me are the ones that stress the importance of love.

God IS love and ALL-KNOWING, ALL-SEEING, ALL-PRESENT.  IF there IS a God.  (That’s for all you folks who don’t know or think there isn’t).

Love is the key.  Whether there’s a God or not.

Desmond Tutu was interviewed a few months ago by Ted Koppel on Up Close and he made a comment that has stuck with me ever since.  He meditates every morning from 6-9 a.m.

He was speaking of God.  Paraphrasing, he said the very essence of God is love.  God loves US completely, unequivocally, absolutely, and God expects US to love each other IN THE SAME MANNER.  Then he said something else.  I will never forget it:

“God loves George Bush and Saddam Hussein the same.  To Him, they are brothers.”

If the world could grasp the meaning of those words, there would be no more wars.  “The world” being made up of millions of individuals.  Individuals who CAN comprehend and act on the meaning of those words.  If they so choose.

There’s lots of things I haven’t figured out yet.   Some things I think I’ve figured out but I may change my mind if I get more information.

For now, this is what I believe.

Whatever heaven is--assuming there is one--it is only filled with love.  To the furthermost edges, every nook and cranny.  Filled with love.  All the negative emotions that we humans feel from time to time-- anger, frustration, intolerance, resentment, self-righteousness, hatred, impatience, prejudice--those things are not present in heaven.

So if you harbor those thoughts, if you act on those emotions, if this is

Who . . . You . . . Are . . .

you might want to think about overcoming those feelings with LOVE.  (so-called Christians beware; wake up; I’m speaking especially to you.)

In the largest darkest room or cave, where you can’t see your finger in front of your face, light just one small candle.  The darkness is dispersed.  Light another candle and the darkness recedes a little more.  Every small candle lit gets rid of a little more darkness.

Individuals, one by one, understanding what love really means, practicing it, joined together become nations.  And nations who act in love will have no need for war.