NOTICE:
From any post click the photo across the page top to see the entire blog.
JAMES' PERSONAL WRITINGS: SLOVING
JAMES' MOST STRATEGIC POSTS: *****
MUCH OF MY POSTING WAS ON FACEBOOK: STARTLOVING1
Showing posts with label Teresa of Calcutta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Teresa of Calcutta. Show all posts

3.02.2010

"'Zombies' no longer are fanciful creatures for me. They're but a few of us." SL

"'Zombies' no longer are fanciful creatures for me. 
They're but a VERY few of us. Clinically.  Really.
The living Dead.  Who but Dead folks could spend
ANY time on Pleasures when so many are physically
and Spiritually destitute?  Only living-Dead People. Really."
  SL

Teresa of Calcutta:  'The greatest poverty I've seen in
the world is the poverty of spirit in the west.'

Gandhi was asked what he thought about Western
Civilization:  'I think it would be a good idea.'

2.12.2010

"Your 'Life's' Measure: How much you are MOVED by the stranger's suffering." SL

"Your 'Life's' Measure: How much you are MOVED
by the stranger's suffering. Think King, Teresa, Wilson,
Thomas, Wright, Macias, Jesus, Gandhi...."  SL

2.01.2010

"I was among the Dead, those not brought to total dedication to serve, by the needy." SL

"I was born and raised among the Dead, the all but the few of us
who are not brought to total dedication to serve, by the needy.
Ultimately, my dad's Spirit, the Spirits of Teresa of Calcutta,
King, Gandhi, Jesus..., and the teachings of Adler, Maslow, Tolstoy,
Csikszetmihalyi, Rogers, Sorokin... Saved my Life.
If I'm speaking metaphorically, that is NOT how it
feels to me.  TOTALLY it feels like the difference
between Life, and Death."
  SL

1.30.2010

"Respectability: Living in a way that the poor should weep in Joy, Awe, Gratitude." SL

"Respectability: 

Living in a way that the

poor should [would if they fully knew]
weep in Joy, Awe, Gratitude, Wonder;

That is, Incarnating Universal Love;
BEING Immediate Family TO the least of these.

[Thomas, Jesus, King, Gandhi,
Teresa, Romero, Eleanor Roosevelt,
Pr. Obama, Michelle Obama,
Diane Wilson, Col. Ann Wright.]


Dis-Respectability:

EVERYTHING less than, EVERYTHING else besides
BEING IMMEDIATE FAMILY TO
the least of these our global brothers and sisters;
that is, NOT being Universal Love incarnate /
Immediate Family TO ALL,
ESPECIALLY the poor in
Spirit (enemy, wicked, foreigner)
and materiality."
  SL

1.26.2010

"Example is not the major thing in influencing people; it is the only thing." Dr. Albert Schweitzer

[Friends - I value your time as though my childrens' lives depend upon it -
because they do.  I never send that which I believe is not crucial to their
lives, and yours, but I rely on you to read what strikes you as important,
and flush the rest].

Having been well stimulated by recent dialog with a few of you, and having received
substantial Violence, unintended, from two considered internationally acclaimed
"Non-violent activists" recently, who now I see to be nothing of the sort,
tragically, sadly - once again my nervous system proves to me the old adage - if
it doesn't kill you, you grow.  Some of the fruits to me of this trauma, and
these dialogs, I'll share here:

"Example is not the major thing in influencing people; it is the only thing."
Dr. Albert Schweitzer  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Schweitzer  Nobel
Peace Prize 1952 (I was 1 year old) 
[Note to two friends:  I know nothing of the lives of Christopher Hitchings
nor Andrew Harvey that is not profound divorce from this Truth.  I do not
question their right to this Divorce, but I find them useless, no, dangerous
as a consequence.
"Nothing has so caused the needless suffering in the world as "Sages" that
Say but do not Do [I give you the Organized Religions, including Atheism, and
"Activism."]  These are the Hypocrites, clinically, that Jesus centrally warned
us of."  SL  (Yes, they piously, sacredly killed him.)

"Technically: Violence = Non-Loving; Non-Violence = Loving." SL 
"What does non-violence mean?
Uh, the love of mother for her child."
Gandhi paraphrase with liberties taken

"The Golden Rule is about Motive (Universal Love) NOT behavior."  SL
"[Love] unto others as you would
have them [Love] unto you."  CJ (as translated by SL)

"Why Jesus remained silent:
He would not aid and abet his sibling's violence on him."  SL
"Non-cooperation with evil is every bit as much a duty as
it is to not do evil."  Gandhi paraphrase

"Violence:  Neglecting our Duty to Love Each as Immediate Family."  SL

"Loving, like Skiing, divorced from Acting, is Nothing."  SL
"Love is that which cannot remain passive in the face of suffering."  Teresa of Calcutta paraphrase.

"Love EQUALS Life."  SL

Your Loving brother forever, no matter what,

Start Loving

Twitter: @StartLoving1
Universally Loving Activists.blogspot.com (Subscr)



Homeearth
Security.
blogspot.com
(Subscr)

Http://Start-Loving.blogspot.com  (Subscr)
Http://youtube.com/StartLoving2 
("Friend")
28 Year Peace Vigil - Prop1.org
http://www.facebook.com/StartLoving1 ("Friend")
http://www.TheChristlikeChurch.blogspot.com
Documentary on Start Loving








1.03.2010

"Jesus' Teaching: There are 2 Families - The Hearts/Givers, and The Tumors/Takers. Of which Family are you? Really?" SL

I've spent this Christ-mass week immersed in the words of Jesus, line by line, over and over.
This is what I've found. This is a very big advance in clarity for me:

"Jesus' Teaching is this:

There are 2 Families -

Health's Life "Givers"
(The HEARTS/GIVERS:
Gandhi, King,
Teresa, Eleanor Roosevelt,
Diane Wilson, Col. Ann Wright,
William Thomas...)

or,

Cancer's Life "Takers"
(The TUMORS/TAKERS:
Trump, Bill Gates, Bill Clinton,
Tom Buchannan (Great Gatsby),
Skimpole (Bleak House)....).

Of which family are you?
Really?

Your Soul depends on
the right answer.

SALVATION'S entirely about which
Family you end up in; WE end up in."

SL

12.22.2009

Lisa asked, "What can I do to make a difference?" "Be Universal Love. No other solution exists. Ever" SL

Lisa asked, "What can I do to make a difference?"  "Be Universal Love.  No other solution exists. Ever" SL

"Universal Love is never passive in the face of human suffering." 

Teresa of Calcutta paraphrase.

xxxx

sl

12.04.2009

Death by either means: Right shoots to death. Left talks to death.

"We are what we DO; NOT what we think, feel, say, intend
desire believe...."  SL

"Love is unable to remain passive in the face of suffering."
Teresa of Calcutta [If it is passive, it is NOT Love.]

11.17.2009

"Involuntarily, I now clearly see personal wealth as an accurate measure of Disease - InHumanity." SL

"Involuntarily, I now clearly see personal wealth as an accurate measure of Disease - InHumanity."  SL

I didn't anticipate receiving this Vision.  But that Spirit to which I have
been reborn, certainly will see as I see now. 
Always has, always will

"Blessed are the poor,
for theirs is the
Kingdom of
Heaven
[in this
Life!]

JC

SL

"If
you
Love
the poor
you WILL share
their fate." Oscar Romero

"The greatest poverty I've ever seen
is the poverty in the west, the poverty of Spirit."  Teresa of Calcutta [paraphrase]

Universally Loving Activists.blogspot.com (Subscr)



Homeearth
Security.
blogspot.com
(Subscr)

Http://Start-Loving.blogspot.com  (Subscr)
Http://youtube.com/StartLoving2 
("Friend")
28 Year Peace Vigil - Prop1.org
http://www.facebook.com/StartLoving1 ("Friend")







9.21.2009

Life denying trick of the mind: THE CASUAL PROUNOUNCEMENT OF "GOOD," AND THE LIKE.

"The (?)" Life denying trick of the mind: THE CASUAL PRONOUNCEMENT OF "GOOD,"
as SUBSTITUTE for the actual STATE OF BEING, OR NOT.  Casually - "he is good,"
or "I am good...."  Murder.

Good is a way of being, a state of being, or NOT.

Brain surgeon is a way of being, or NOT (if in fact of my BEING I am NOT).

Marine is a way of being, or NOT (if in fact of my BEING I am not).

MLK Jr. was GOOD.  Teresa of Calcutta was GOOD.  Gandhi was GOOD. 
Eleanor Roosevelt was GOOD.  ALL BABIES are born to be GOOD.

Start Loving may or may not have the potential to be Marine, or to be Brain Surgeon.
POTENTIAL IS NOT STATE OF BEING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Start Loving always had the potential to "BE" GOOD.  For most of his life he chose
to NOT "BE" GOOD.  Yes, he had goodness within him - the potential.  Occasionally
he dabbled in BEing GOOD, but that did not make his state, his WAY OF BEING - GOOD.

We are born  GOOD, the same way a healthy cell is born healthy - to be dedicated
to the work of the body.  But Start Fell away from that DEDICATION TO GOOD.

HE HAS CLIMBED BACK TOWARDS IT - GOOD - HEAVEN.


9.13.2009

The Perfect Measure of Love: How far we live from the Least of These our Human Family

"If you Love the Poor, you will share their fate."  Oscar Romero (assassinated).
[Your child gets ill and to save them costs everything that you own - you gladly
sell everything, right?  The poor child IS YOUR child.  No?  Then THAT is
how poor you are, THAT is how much you do NOT Love.  Perfect measure!

"Love cannot remain passive in the face of suffering [, sooooo if you are passive
in the face  of suffering, it is not Love]."  Teresa of Calcutta

"Love [IS AS] I have Loved."  Jesus.  [Jesus Love, Jesus Life was a Perfect
Measure.]

Anonymous - Think of the person that you most despise in the world. 
THAT is how much you Love.



8.16.2009

Issues rased by my email: "True Muslims, DEEPLY, DEEPLY OFFENDING (without so intending)..."

Shortly after sending this email early this morning:
http://jesusgodgoodetcnjay.blogspot.com/2009/08/true-muslims-deeply-deeply-offending_16.html ,
my friend responded as follows:

"Thanks, Start, for starting our day with provocative thoughts.  In reply (and w/o asking that you

necessarily take the time to respond) I'll rattle off a few words over which I tend to stumble:


I.  "True" and "True Believers"


II.  "NOR EVER APOLOGIZE"

 

III. "Reasonably perceives..."


Below is my response to my friend.  I share it with you just in case similar questions

came to your mind.





My friend -

Deeply honored and delighted to hear from you.

Truly, I don't know if my response is intelligible.  But responding, and "thinking
through" was real useful for me!  Thanks.

In response to the email I received from you, I'm really, really, really pleased
to have the opportunity to share my thoughts on the following I, II, III:

I.  REGARDING "TRUTH," AND "TRUE BELIEVERS" (in my early morning email)

Two weeks ago I placed the following in the most prominent (upper left) position of
my YouTube Chan ( http://youtube.com/StarLoving1 that is up to about 540
subscribers now, growing by about 1 per day thanks to the support of a few Angels):

""True Religion subordinates EVERYTHING ELSE to, and values ABOVE EVERYTHING
ELSE the practice, spread and maintenance of Universal Love. Today there are no True Religions.
There ARE a few INDIVIDUALS (1 in a million) who are OF the True Religion -
Universal Love - including some of you. :-)" SL "

The following, friend, is an expansion of this quote above relative to my email sent to you earlier today,
and your email to me.  Please feel no obligation to either read this lengthy response, nor to comment back. 
But Thank You.  You stimulated extremely useful thought within me.  Thank you for that.
And if you DO wade into the following, "sorry" in advance for not being more concise, and a better
communicator.  I have so very many limitations.

Friend - I believe that there IS ONE Truth about the "physical" laws of the universe -
from the macro, down to the micro,
by whatever name, in whatever language, as taught by whatever school!  And further,
as humankind strives to grapple with the underlying Truth, we Humans will forever
be in a position of merely APPROXIMATING the truth; but generally getting closer.  Now, staying within the
realm of scientific pursuit for a moment (is there Truly any other?) most people would
agree that some "schools," and CERTAINLY some individuals pursue the Truth
more effectively than others (an Einstein being toward the top)!  For example,
a "school" (high school or university for example) that is controlled by "Fundamentalist
Christians" probably would do a far inferior job of ascertaining / approximating the Truth,
year in and year out, than would a secular university - Harvard for example, particularly
if the "science" in question has to do with Evolution.  Right? 

As an aside, can we imagine
how ludicrous it would be, how impossible it would be to hear from a great Truth Seeker
like Einstein - 'I am great, I am of superior competence BECAUSE of the "School" I am affiliate with!'
(In Einstein's case his affiliation, his "school," his "religion" would be in Truth not some man-made edifice but rather -
BELIEF IN, PURSUIT OF, PRACTICE OF TRUTH!  (Same exactly with Gandhi, King, Jesus....)

Well, as respects the concept (and NOT what is the common usage, arguments, dogmas, etc) of the phrase
"True Believer" - what I, SL, mean by "True Believer" is a person that is a devoted "Believer in Truth"
(one who deeply believes that in fact THERE IS A "TRUTH" TO BE PURSUED - A "SOLUTION" THAT
 IS BY AND LARGE MORE HELPFUL TO HUMANITY THAN ANY OTHER (FOR EXAMPLE THAT
"BREATHING" IS BETTER THAN NOT BREATHING), EVEN IF WE CAN ONLY EVER KNOW
THAT "TRUTH" APPROXIMATELY!!!).

Also by "True  Believer" (I wish I had used a different term, because I rarely if ever use it;
I can't recall EVER using it before)  SL means in the email of early this morning - one who Believes there
IS A TRUTH ABOUT HOW HUMAN BEINGS CAN BEST LIVE AMONG ONE ANOTHER.
And further, friend, SL has for the last 5-10 years, after exhaustive study which continues, concluded
that this one, best way is UNIVERSAL LOVE as the preeminent guiding faculty.

(Universal Love being that part of the Human nervous system that
others have defined as Empathy / Compassion / Wisdom / Humanity, or Supra-consciousness,
or The Highest Form of Human Intelligence, or (by the likes of King, Gandhi and Jesus as) God / Truth / Love.
To SL these are all, exactly the same Truth, dimly grasped as of yet, by different words; and that
for which the likes of great, Healthy Humans that we revere hold to be of the highest value, even more
valuable than their life itself; because it IS Life itself.)

Many people mistakenly believe that what "defined" Teresa of Calcutta, or MLK Jr, or Gandhi,
or Jesus... was their "Religion" - Catholic, Baptist, Hindu, Jew.... NO!!!!!!!  Absolutely not!!!!!!!!!!!!
Their "religion," that which they were True Believers in was Universal Love, Universal Brotherhood,
Family of Humanity, Truth (capital T)... by whatever name.  For them, their "Christianity," or "Hinduism..." they
would describe as "a" MEANS by which they pursued attainment their True Belief; the MEANS by which
they Actualized Universal Love - but THEY, unlike the masses, never confused, NEVER confused
their True Belief - Universal Love - with their means ("religious" practice, in part) of arriving there.

[My personal belief is that a Gandhi, King, Jesus... if alive today, with the benefit of today's scientific,
and other knowledge... would fully agree with me, that although the word and concept "God" is an
indispensable, man-made construct, that with virtual certainty "God' IS two things, and two things
ONLY: 
1.  A man made construct, like "math," or "north" indispensable in navigating Reality to best advantage for all; and
2.  Absolutely TRUE, in the sense that "hearing" is true, or "sight' is true.  That is "God," which
is best understood as, and called "Universal Love,' is a feature, a segment of our Nervous System that
IS the Highest Form of Human Intelligence, that is Divine (Indescribably wonderful in its Humility,
Wisdom, Brilliance, Constructiveness, Creativity, Otherishness...);
that Universal Love is the ENTIRE and ONLY "solution" to the
Human condition (in the same sense that "keeping our eyes open" is the indispensable solution
to human navigation and movement day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute.  EXACTLY in
this way is our mental faculty of Universal Love / God indispensable.)]

And my friend, if there should come a time that I imagine that King,
Gandhi, Einstein, Jesus, Dave Delinger... were here with us today,with all of our learning and science, that
they would NOT passionately agree with me in the above, THEN I will consider these Beliefs by which I now Live -
probably WORTHLESS.

And, those few, those 1 in a million (including Atheists; ESPECIALLY Agnostics!  :-)  ) that with all of their
Being seek True Belief (Universal Love / Truth ), they are the MOST "OFFENDING of creatures" to we clinically
sick masses - and that is why we Crucify them, kill them, drive them out, with all of our fury.

II.  REGARDING "NOR EVER APOLOGIZE" (in my early morning email)

Hmmmmm.  Really, the purpose of the email of early this morning, couching it in the notion of a True Believer,
arbitrarily, a  True Buddhist, was to articulate my resolution to a struggle I've been in
often throughout my life, and very recently due to a specific
incident.  Are there times to "apologize?"  Oh my goodness YES!! 

But when that which one does to
OFFEND, is out of ones Truest, Most Other-centered Belief System, most Responsibly held, one's
"Being" if you will, THAT is NOT a time to Apologize; to do so would be a Lie!  How can we in good
conscience, morality and accountability "apologize" for who and what we are?

My dad, the most wonderful person I've ever known, died at the hands
of a surgical team.  For all I know if he had had a different team, or if he had had no operation at all, he might have
lived another 15 years or so.  An operation that pre-op had a prognosis of 98% success and 3 hours duration, went
12 hours, and he died; he never came out of the O.R. alive. 

The team did not apologize to us, but my dad died in their care. Profoundly "Offensive!!!!!"  But I did not
take offense, and should not have.   They, in my eyes were, and are "True Believers."  They, with their Lives
"worshiped" the Truth - they were among the top rated teams for such surgery in the world - I had and have every reason to
believe that they were doing to my dad what they "Believed" to be what he needed.  And I am so grateful that they did!
Were they sorry for my dad's death?  My guess is, they were almost as sorry as I; feeling almost as much pain as
I did, and do. 

But "apologize?"  For doing their best?  For "being" the best they could be?

My early this morning emails said "Nor EVER apologize" meaning to imply the rest from the context of the email -
for doing your best, being the best you can be, being what your are... in service of others, ON BEHALF OF others.  To be"Sorry" and to
express the same? Yes. "Apologize" in that circumstance?  No.

Permanently remove yourself from the situation?  Maybe! 

Avoid INFLICTING yourself in the future.  Accept banishment?  Maybe!!! 

But "apologize" for being who you are and delivering the best service you can possibly deliver?  No.  Right?

III.  REGARDING "REASONABLY PERCEIVES" (in my early morning email)

Hmmmm.  I don't know how to explain that except with the following:  'Anyone that is not mentally impaired almost
certainly "reasonably perceives" that Einstein was an extremely proficient scientist.'

Love you my friend, and grateful for you.

Your brother,

Start


7.22.2009

He said, "Start, I think you may be the incarnation of Christ." "That's what we are ALL supposed become!!!!!" Start responded.

This was said the other day by a fellow who was doing some activism for days
in the Park, and observing me as well.  I was quite surprised by his observation.

"Death is not something to be sad about," said Teresa of Calcutta. 
"The only thing to be sad about is to know that you are not a Saint."

"If you Love me, you will do greater things than these."  Jesus

"Everyone can be Great, because Everyone can Serve."  Dr. ML King, Jr.

Out of the blue he said, "Start, I think you may be the incarnation of Christ." 
"THAT WOULD BE GREAT!  That's what we are ALL supposed to become!" Start responded.
[This is about the 6th or 7th time I've been told this over the last 35 years, always out of the blue,
always surprises me.]

Let's do it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

6.09.2009

StartL is NOT committed to Peace, or to Justice... but rather, to YOU, to your Joy, and to the elimination of needless Suffering.

Jim,

By the way, don't feel bad - everyone gets this wrong about me.  Contrary to your email below, I am NOT committed to peace (or justice, as most people say of me) - no one could find the motivation to do what I do if they were committed to Peace - our nervous systems are not built that way. 

I am committed, out of Love, to You; to my Entire Human Family; to the elimination of Your needless Suffering; to the Fulfillment of your Joy; out of Universal Love for you, for My Joy, and Yours.  :-)

And I don't want "Peace" for me, or for anyone, at least not in the way most of us mean Peace - the absence of tension.  NO, I want folks consumed, constantly on the edge of being  overwhelmed with Creative Tension to CREATE Joy, and eliminate needless Suffering among our Human Family -  because that process of Creating Joy, and Eliminating Suffering for our World Family is the One and Only source of Joy for us personally, the ultimate human experience.  That is the simple truth of our nervous systems.

Your brother,

Start

ps:  Yes, I am making a big deal of this, because getting this right is our entire hope, as individuals, and as a Human Family.  And we are almost out of time.
pps:  Teresa of Calcutta captured this enormously in one of her final talks in DC ( http://jesusgodgoodetcnjay.blogspot.com/2007/06/teresa-as-you-do-unto-least-of-these.html ), as she was explaining the Peace that she and Jesus live for (me too):  'My Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give unto you.' He came not to give the peace of the world which is only that we don't bother each other. He came to give the Peace of heart which comes from loving - from doing good to others.


From: "jim"
To: Start_Loving@yahoo.com
Sent: Tuesday, June 9, 2009 10:08:30 AM
Subject: SHORT FILM IDEA

Start Loving - 

Greetings! My name is Jim and I live in your old town of West Chester, PA. I recently read the article in the Philadelphia Inquirer about your vigil in Lafayette Park and was moved by your commitment to peace. 

When I read the article about you and your vigil, I thought this would be a good subject for a short film. I was wondering if anyone has already made a short piece on your efforts.

My thought is this piece would contain interviews with you about your devotion to peace, your inspirations, your encounters with tourists. 

I've been a television producer for twenty years, working in news and then at QVC. I left a few years ago and am now writing short stories, none of which are published yet. I own professional video equipment and have some friends who may volunteer time to help shoot and edit. If nothing else, I think we could produce a piece you could link to from your web site. 

Please let me know your initial thoughts. If appropriate, I'd be happy to talk via phone or set up time to travel to DC and meet with you. I look forward to your thoughts. 

Thanks, 

Jim

 




StartL is NOT committed to Peace, or to Justice... but rather, to YOU, to your Joy, and to the elimination of needless Suffering.

Jim,

By the way, don't feel bad - everyone gets this wrong about me.  Contrary to your email below, I am NOT committed to peace (or justice, as most people say of me) - no one could find the motivation to do what I do if they were committed to Peace - our nervous systems are not built that way. 

I am committed, out of Love, to You; to my Entire Human Family; to the elimination of Your needless Suffering; to the Fulfillment of your Joy; out of Universal Love for you, for My Joy, and Yours.  :-)

And I don't want "Peace" for me, or for anyone, at least not in the way most of us mean Peace - the absence of tension.  NO, I want folks consumed, constantly on the edge of being  overwhelmed with Creative Tension to CREATE Joy, and eliminate needless Suffering among our Human Family -  because that process of Creating Joy, and Eliminating Suffering for our World Family is the One and Only source of Joy for us personally, the ultimate human experience.  That is the simple truth of our nervous systems.

Your brother,

Start

ps:  Yes, I am making a big deal of this, because getting this right is our entire hope, as individuals, and as a Human Family.  And we are almost out of time.
pps:  Teresa of Calcutta captured this enormously in one of her final talks in DC ( http://jesusgodgoodetcnjay.blogspot.com/2007/06/teresa-as-you-do-unto-least-of-these.html ), as she was explaining the Peace that she and Jesus live for (me too):  'My Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give unto you.' He came not to give the peace of the world which is only that we don't bother each other. He came to give the Peace of heart which comes from loving - from doing good to others.


From: "jim"
To: Start_Loving@yahoo.com
Sent: Tuesday, June 9, 2009 10:08:30 AM
Subject: SHORT FILM IDEA

Start Loving - 

Greetings! My name is Jim and I live in your old town of West Chester, PA. I recently read the article in the Philadelphia Inquirer about your vigil in Lafayette Park and was moved by your commitment to peace. 

When I read the article about you and your vigil, I thought this would be a good subject for a short film. I was wondering if anyone has already made a short piece on your efforts.

My thought is this piece would contain interviews with you about your devotion to peace, your inspirations, your encounters with tourists. 

I've been a television producer for twenty years, working in news and then at QVC. I left a few years ago and am now writing short stories, none of which are published yet. I own professional video equipment and have some friends who may volunteer time to help shoot and edit. If nothing else, I think we could produce a piece you could link to from your web site. 

Please let me know your initial thoughts. If appropriate, I'd be happy to talk via phone or set up time to travel to DC and meet with you. I look forward to your thoughts. 

Thanks, 

Jim

 



4.07.2009

Jesus, King, Gandhi, Romero, Teresa, Eleanor... accepted Start in their Foxhole tonight

My prayer life has been practically nil for months now.  Why?  The final battle for Humanity is so pitched, on so many fronts - Climate Disaster, Democracy, 28 Yr Vigil (dual shifts like Thomas endured all those years), Washington Peace House Integrity, War-De-funding, Connie, Nuclear Arms Reduction, Gaza/Palestine... there has not been time to Pray; just to be a Prayer.  Secondarily, Prayer is NEVER the end, but the means, the means to become the "change we need to be" (Gandhi), to become the "pencil in the hand of God," (Teresa) and my sense is that I've been good enough on these fronts these last months that it was wrong for me to indulge in further Prayer at the expense of using every moment to Wage all out Love at thise most crucial of all years in the History of the world. 

But tonight I couldn't sleep, my body is not yet adjusted to my morning and evening shifts at the 28 Year Vigil, so I had some time for one of my few Prayer techniques - to put myself, to Imagine myself, in the company of Jesus, King, Gandhi, Romero, Teresa, Eleanor, Dellinger, Joan... and to examine their reaction to my being there, for whatever guidance, positive or negative, that this will yield me regarding "how am I doing?"

Well, tonight as I came to them there was no applause, no high-fives, no warm cheers, no warm "Family" embrace... and I want this from them, very much.   But I'm not worthy of this.  Yet.

But they were in the midst of this desperate, to the death, final battle for Humanity.  And they were entirely accepting of me joining them in the fight.   I take this as acceptance enough, for now; affirmation enough, for now.

Remember the final battle of the Lord of the Rings trilogy?  All our (s)heroes are encircled by a totally overwhelming hoard of Evil, remember?  That is the circumstance in which tonight I found Jesus, King, Gandhi, Romero, Teresa, Eleanor....  And their reaction told me that they felt that I belonged along side them in this fight.  I was sufficiently worthy for that. 

This is good.

2.23.2009

"Disarming and Funny"" How can a "Christian" "leader" be so unlike "Christ?"

WNYC headline: [new NYC Catholic leader] "Timothy Dolan: Disarming and Funny."

Jesus was not "Disarming and Funny."  ML King was not "Disarming and Funny."  Gandhi was not "Disarming and Funny."

"I think that to be Christian you should resemble Christ."  Teresa of Calcutta

"I came not to bring peace but to divide with a sword."  Jesus

"Church is to Jesus what a peep-show is in relation to your marriage partner.  It is what you do INSTEAD of practicing your vows"  Start Loving

"I like your Christ.  I do not like your Christians.  Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."  Gandhi

2.17.2009

REAL "change" happens when COMMITMENT EXCEEDS 99.99999%. Now, everything LESS is KILLING HUMANITY'S TIME.

[NOTE: I share things like this with a select few of you NOT because I assume YOU don't know it, but rather because it strikes me as something I NEED to keep in the front of mind.]

This is not how I WISH it were. THIS IS HOW IT IS. In an excellent, brief video...

No militant activism? No "America." Naomi Wolf


... Naomi makes a key point: AN EFFECTIVE "ACTION" CHANGES PEOPLE - CHANGES THEIR SPIRIT.

Not their minds, although effective "action" WILL do that, but their SPIRIT.
REAL "change" happens when THE ACTIVIST'S COMMITMENT EXCEEDS 99.99999%.
In the face of today's global genocidal prospects
(http://homeearthsecurity.blogspot.com/2009/02/discoverer-of-cfcs-on-warming-number-of.html) Everything less is KILLING HUMANITY'S TIME LEFT.

* MLK's words were brilliant, BUT WE LISTENED BECAUSE OF HIS ABSOLUTE COMMITMENT.
* Civil Rights marchers were effective, BECAUSE OF THEIR COURAGEOUS COMMITMENT.
* Sowetto child marchers were successful, BECAUSE OF THEIR TOTAL COMMITMENT.
* Oscar Romero...
* Teresa of Calcutta...
* Diane Wilson...
* St. Thomas of Peace Park...
* Conception of Peace Park...
* Lincoln, FDR, Obama...
* Col. Ann Wright...
* Nancy...
* Nicholas...
* Rick...
* SC
* Liz Horican (the Hurricane!!!!)...
* And so few others....

"Anyone can be great, ,because anyone can serve."
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.


IF I know anything, personally, it has to do with this because my entire adult life has been based on the need to achieve exactly this, dramatically change people's spirits, because nothing less could achieve the dramatic situation turn-arounds that I needed to cause. It is what I've studied. It is what I've practiced, if with only periodic success.

Spirit is everything. Changing spirit is everything. Changing spirit COSTS EVERYTHING - TOTAL PERSONAL COMMITMENT.

1.31.2009