Gosh, beyond Suffering & Sacrifice are there bigger sticking / error / confusion / disinformation / distortion points for Christian / Humane Being wannabees? Not many. Like:
* Well, I don't want to be like Jesus / Gandhi - THEY SUFFERED; I'm so glad WE do not have to!
* Suffering / Sacrifice - How dreary!
* I feel so guilty because I do not want to suffer / sacrifice!
* Etc....
If you are reading this, you are almost certainly (this is NOT a complement) a high-achiever by the "world's" standards. [I TOLD you it was not a complement.] Ok, for the sake of helping me make this point, indulge your error a bit further. Think of 3 - 10 things you've accomplished that you really, really, really feel positive about that you accomplished them. Write them down. 60 seconds. Time's up. Ok. Which of these did you NOT have to "Suffer," or "Sacrifice" to achieve!?!?!?!?! YOU HAD TO SUFFER AND SACRIFICE FOR MOST OR ALL, RIGHT?!?!?!
Hmmmmm. But my question was, "things ... you really, really, really feel positive about...."
WHEN YOU ARE DOING THINGS YOU FEEL ARE IMPORTANT, YOU WILL SUFFER AND SACRIFICE WITHOUT, WITHOUT, WITHOUT BEING CENTRALLY AWARE THAT YOU ARE SUFFERING AND SACRIFICING!!!!! YOU KNOW THIS!
If Joy comes from extreme service to others, really, really helping "the least of these," this, helping them, is going to take a lot, A LOT of suffering and sacrifice correct? SO....... LIFE / LOVE / JOY / PEACE LIE IN THE DIRECTION OF WHAT APPEARS, "APPEARS" TO BE SUFFERING AND SACRIFICE. "SUFFERING AND SACRIFICE" ARE LIKE A COMPASS, LIKE A WILLOW BRANCH, LIKE A GEIGER COUNTER. THIS IS AWESOME TO KNOW!
USED WITH WISDOM AND ENLIGHTENMENT SUFFERING AND SACRIFICE ARE YOUR POINTERS TO HEAVEN!
FOR ANYONE THAT LIVES WITHIN AND FROM THEIR HEART - THEIR SUFFERING AND SACRIFICE ARE FELT 100,000 TIMES MORE BY THE ONLOOKER THAN BY THE DOER - THAN THEY FEEL IT THEMSELVES. REFLECT ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE. REALLY IMAGINE WHAT THE LIFE OF TERESA, GANDHI, MANDELA, KING.... FEELS LIKE TO THEM!!!!!!!!!!! SUFFERING? SACRIFICE? NO MORE THAN YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED DOING THE THINGS THAT YOU VALUED!!!!!!!!!!! IT JUST "LOOKS" LIKE THEY SUFFERED / SACRIFICED. [How very convenient for Satan.]
5.13.2007
Sacrifice, without... Sacrifice
One of those extremely problematic words that means far more to the onlooker than to the "activist / Christian / Humane Being."
See:
SUFFERING / SACRIFICE - CHRISTIAN NAVIGATION (like "N" on the Compass)
See:
SUFFERING / SACRIFICE - CHRISTIAN NAVIGATION (like "N" on the Compass)
Courage, without, er, um, Courage
One of those extremely problematic words that means far more to the onlooker than to the "activist / Christian / Humane Being."
See:SUFFERING / SACRIFICE - CHRISTIAN NAVIGATION (like "N" on the Compass)
See:SUFFERING / SACRIFICE - CHRISTIAN NAVIGATION (like "N" on the Compass)
Suffering, hmmm... without Suffering
One of those extremely problematic words that means far more to the onlooker than to the "activist / Christian / Humane Being."
See:SUFFERING / SACRIFICE - CHRISTIAN NAVIGATION (like "N" on the Compass)
See:SUFFERING / SACRIFICE - CHRISTIAN NAVIGATION (like "N" on the Compass)
COMMENTS ON EMBASSY CAMPAIGN to a very blunt, very wonderful sister
Dear K. E.; [AUTHOR OF RECENT RADIO ARTCILE]
I am so honored and pleased with your publication, your visits, your concern and your suggestions. Your Heart, Soul and Mind are too precious for me to waste. So I am going to risk the same bluntness and brusqueness you engaged with me. I HOPE FOR YOUR ONGOING SUGGESTIONS!!!!!!!
K.E. 'Lose those dreadful, bleak, horrifying pictures on your posters Start! I don't what to see them! No one wants to see them! Give me something hopeful!
Start: KE, your dearest one has an attack. Clearly there is something life threatening going on. The Dr's have done their tests and now it is time to talk. HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT THEM TO SUGAR COAT THE TRUTH? ZERO RIGHT? You would rather have them be cruel, blunt, hurtful clods than to sugar coat even a little. WHY?!?! Because your loved one is at stake, you need to be totally and effectively engaged, and TOTAL TRUTH IS YOUR KEY TO THIS! Saving Darfur will take a miracle - objectively this cannot be disputed. "Miracles" come only from "families" engaged in "emergencies." (Remember the movie "The Right Stuff?" "Failure is not an option" said the mission chief. He launched political enemies into "family emergency response' mode, the caused "miracle," upon "miracle" and the rest is history.) YES we have the world's greatest defense system in our U.S. Hearts to protect us from entering this mode with "others," non "family." But there is no other source of miracles. Save Darfur et all have tried your "hopeful" approach for four years. No one has more Darfur blood on their hands than does SaveDarfur.org regardless of their good intentions. The "family emergency" response comes from unvarnished "Truth." This is true in business for god's sake, let alone for stopping a Genocide. Want to raise millions for food relief? Hopeful signs are your ticket. Want to STOP A GENOCIDE? UNVARNISHED TRUTH delivered with the ultimate sacrifice (offered, if not taken) by the few (like me, SNCC, Kent State students, Harvard Students on Hunger Strike to get living wage for their custodians....) to ignite the masses is the only way one people has ever been saved by another. Using your imagination glance, GLANCE at STARTING A MOVEMENT? EXCLUDE THE MASSES!!!!!!!! Gandhi based his life's work on this trust in the almighty power of Truth: “When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall — think of it, always," Gandhi.
and finally...
Heart of darkness
From "Haaretz"...
"This is not a girl, she is not dying," I think. "This is not her spastic body, not her trembling hands. These are not her legs, devoid of flesh, not her fly-infested face, not her expressionless eyes, not her twisted fingers. This is not a girl," the mind insists. "She is not five years old. That can't be."
We are sitting in a tent in the Djabal refugee camp in Chad, two kilometers west of Goz Beida. A few minutes earlier, we had been told that there was a girl in serious condition in one of the corners of the camp, and now she is sitting across from us on a colorful mat, next to her mother and her two brothers. I [Assaf Uni] find myself incapable of looking at her for more than a second or so, from time to time.
This denial reflex will return to me often: a kind of defense mechanism of the mind. This is not really a girl who is dragged, crying, by soldiers into a clump of bushes to be raped; this is not a man who is savagely mauled by a rope whip; these are not the final hours of the mute children in the hospital, their bellies distended from hunger, their eyes in a wide vacant stare. Soon enough, though, the mind refocuses and starts to take in the information: This is real life in eastern Chad, the life of Sudanese refugees and Chadian displaced persons. This is life and this is suffering on the fringes of the slaughter in Darfur.... (see link above for full story)
K.E.: "Not this location; not this way."
Start: Given the above, if one accepts the above for the moment, the issue is not, "not this location; not this way." The issue is: NOT ONE PERSON / MULTI FRONT ATTACK!!!!!!! One student from SNCC / ONE SIT IN? One nonviolent soldier against Brittan in India (1000's besides Gandhi) / JUST the Salt March? Etc. However, "Never believe that one committed individual cannot change the world. It is the only thing that ever has," Start Loving. :-) Unfortunately, without a first miracle SOON, clearly I am not going to be the "Start." No one else is trying or positioning to be. God save us.
Dr. King had this to say pertenent on the subject: "…the great stumbling block …[is the] moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to the positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises... to wait for a "more convenient season".
Start: K.E. - Beyond this dear, dear friend, the single most disturbing, single most important writing on nonviolent change, pertinent to this discussion, in my experience is: LOVE IN ACTION, Thich Nhat Hanh (!!! Nothing beyond hunger strike, is, or has ever been contemplated by me; and I expect nothing beyond it ever will be contemplated by me.)
I am so honored and pleased with your publication, your visits, your concern and your suggestions. Your Heart, Soul and Mind are too precious for me to waste. So I am going to risk the same bluntness and brusqueness you engaged with me. I HOPE FOR YOUR ONGOING SUGGESTIONS!!!!!!!
K.E. 'Lose those dreadful, bleak, horrifying pictures on your posters Start! I don't what to see them! No one wants to see them! Give me something hopeful!
Start: KE, your dearest one has an attack. Clearly there is something life threatening going on. The Dr's have done their tests and now it is time to talk. HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT THEM TO SUGAR COAT THE TRUTH? ZERO RIGHT? You would rather have them be cruel, blunt, hurtful clods than to sugar coat even a little. WHY?!?! Because your loved one is at stake, you need to be totally and effectively engaged, and TOTAL TRUTH IS YOUR KEY TO THIS! Saving Darfur will take a miracle - objectively this cannot be disputed. "Miracles" come only from "families" engaged in "emergencies." (Remember the movie "The Right Stuff?" "Failure is not an option" said the mission chief. He launched political enemies into "family emergency response' mode, the caused "miracle," upon "miracle" and the rest is history.) YES we have the world's greatest defense system in our U.S. Hearts to protect us from entering this mode with "others," non "family." But there is no other source of miracles. Save Darfur et all have tried your "hopeful" approach for four years. No one has more Darfur blood on their hands than does SaveDarfur.org regardless of their good intentions. The "family emergency" response comes from unvarnished "Truth." This is true in business for god's sake, let alone for stopping a Genocide. Want to raise millions for food relief? Hopeful signs are your ticket. Want to STOP A GENOCIDE? UNVARNISHED TRUTH delivered with the ultimate sacrifice (offered, if not taken) by the few (like me, SNCC, Kent State students, Harvard Students on Hunger Strike to get living wage for their custodians....) to ignite the masses is the only way one people has ever been saved by another. Using your imagination glance, GLANCE at STARTING A MOVEMENT? EXCLUDE THE MASSES!!!!!!!! Gandhi based his life's work on this trust in the almighty power of Truth: “When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall — think of it, always," Gandhi.
and finally...
Heart of darkness
From "Haaretz"...
"This is not a girl, she is not dying," I think. "This is not her spastic body, not her trembling hands. These are not her legs, devoid of flesh, not her fly-infested face, not her expressionless eyes, not her twisted fingers. This is not a girl," the mind insists. "She is not five years old. That can't be."
We are sitting in a tent in the Djabal refugee camp in Chad, two kilometers west of Goz Beida. A few minutes earlier, we had been told that there was a girl in serious condition in one of the corners of the camp, and now she is sitting across from us on a colorful mat, next to her mother and her two brothers. I [Assaf Uni] find myself incapable of looking at her for more than a second or so, from time to time.
This denial reflex will return to me often: a kind of defense mechanism of the mind. This is not really a girl who is dragged, crying, by soldiers into a clump of bushes to be raped; this is not a man who is savagely mauled by a rope whip; these are not the final hours of the mute children in the hospital, their bellies distended from hunger, their eyes in a wide vacant stare. Soon enough, though, the mind refocuses and starts to take in the information: This is real life in eastern Chad, the life of Sudanese refugees and Chadian displaced persons. This is life and this is suffering on the fringes of the slaughter in Darfur.... (see link above for full story)
K.E.: "Not this location; not this way."
Start: Given the above, if one accepts the above for the moment, the issue is not, "not this location; not this way." The issue is: NOT ONE PERSON / MULTI FRONT ATTACK!!!!!!! One student from SNCC / ONE SIT IN? One nonviolent soldier against Brittan in India (1000's besides Gandhi) / JUST the Salt March? Etc. However, "Never believe that one committed individual cannot change the world. It is the only thing that ever has," Start Loving. :-) Unfortunately, without a first miracle SOON, clearly I am not going to be the "Start." No one else is trying or positioning to be. God save us.
Dr. King had this to say pertenent on the subject: "…the great stumbling block …[is the] moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to the positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises... to wait for a "more convenient season".
Start: K.E. - Beyond this dear, dear friend, the single most disturbing, single most important writing on nonviolent change, pertinent to this discussion, in my experience is: LOVE IN ACTION, Thich Nhat Hanh (!!! Nothing beyond hunger strike, is, or has ever been contemplated by me; and I expect nothing beyond it ever will be contemplated by me.)
NPR / DARFUR / EISELE / START LOVING
Commentary: Hunger Striker Wants to Make Difference in Darfur
May-06-2007, All Things Considered
...believes his actions can make a difference in Darfur. He inspired this commentary from NPR's Kitty Eisele. KITTY EISELE: He calls himself ?Start Loving,? but actually it's the last...
Listeners Letters: McGinley Commentary, Immigrant Profile
All Things Considered, May 12, 2007 · Listeners air their thoughts on Kitty Eisele's commentary about Jay McGinley, and Debbie Elliot's profile of Dr. Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa, a former illegal migrant worker, now a citizen and a neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins University.
Start Loving - In defense of Ms. Eisele: "I take it as a kindness in support of the Darfur cause that NPR aired the comment above from the California listener. With all respect and affection for the listener, this Californian clearly did NOT understand Ms. Eisele's report. Clearly Ms. Eisele was communicating with courageous honesty her conflicted support and respect for my embrace of people 6000 miles away; and making herself extremely vulnerable to criticism through her selfless self-depreciation. God bless your courage, insight, compassion, skill and support for Darfur Ms. Eisele. Tragically so far, one in a million posses or use these wonderful characteristics you have displayed."
Start Loving correcting Ms. Eisele regarding White House protesters: "Among the only people in the world "sane" enough to stand for their brothers and sisters in Darfur, Iraq and other places thousands of miles from the U.S. are some of those "crazy" White House protesters you so carelessly maligned. Ellen Thomas, with support from her husband Thomas is the only person yet to come forward with daily support of the Sudan Embassy Darfur Action for which you have at least guarded hope. Ellen was one of those White House demonstrators for 18 years, and now chairs the Washington Peace Center and is a world respected anti Nuclear activist. Thomas is in his 26th year of White House vigil against nuclear armaments and for truth and wisdom in government. Thomas and Ellen's bill Prop 1 to eliminate nucs worldwide has been proposed by Rep. Eleanor Homes Norton every year for many, many years now and has ever increasing international support. Pretty Crazy huh?
The prophets of every age are judged by their peers as "crazy," and by history as the only ones that were "sane" in their time; the ones that if NOT "stayed away from" might have averted, well, Armageddon. Please take care. You, Ms. Eisele are so much better than that.
ps: Are there no crazies in-front-of the White House? Are there no crazies IN the White House?"
May-06-2007, All Things Considered
...believes his actions can make a difference in Darfur. He inspired this commentary from NPR's Kitty Eisele. KITTY EISELE: He calls himself ?Start Loving,? but actually it's the last...
Listeners Letters: McGinley Commentary, Immigrant Profile
All Things Considered, May 12, 2007 · Listeners air their thoughts on Kitty Eisele's commentary about Jay McGinley, and Debbie Elliot's profile of Dr. Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa, a former illegal migrant worker, now a citizen and a neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins University.
Start Loving - In defense of Ms. Eisele: "I take it as a kindness in support of the Darfur cause that NPR aired the comment above from the California listener. With all respect and affection for the listener, this Californian clearly did NOT understand Ms. Eisele's report. Clearly Ms. Eisele was communicating with courageous honesty her conflicted support and respect for my embrace of people 6000 miles away; and making herself extremely vulnerable to criticism through her selfless self-depreciation. God bless your courage, insight, compassion, skill and support for Darfur Ms. Eisele. Tragically so far, one in a million posses or use these wonderful characteristics you have displayed."
Start Loving correcting Ms. Eisele regarding White House protesters: "Among the only people in the world "sane" enough to stand for their brothers and sisters in Darfur, Iraq and other places thousands of miles from the U.S. are some of those "crazy" White House protesters you so carelessly maligned. Ellen Thomas, with support from her husband Thomas is the only person yet to come forward with daily support of the Sudan Embassy Darfur Action for which you have at least guarded hope. Ellen was one of those White House demonstrators for 18 years, and now chairs the Washington Peace Center and is a world respected anti Nuclear activist. Thomas is in his 26th year of White House vigil against nuclear armaments and for truth and wisdom in government. Thomas and Ellen's bill Prop 1 to eliminate nucs worldwide has been proposed by Rep. Eleanor Homes Norton every year for many, many years now and has ever increasing international support. Pretty Crazy huh?
The prophets of every age are judged by their peers as "crazy," and by history as the only ones that were "sane" in their time; the ones that if NOT "stayed away from" might have averted, well, Armageddon. Please take care. You, Ms. Eisele are so much better than that.
ps: Are there no crazies in-front-of the White House? Are there no crazies IN the White House?"
Miracles. From Julie.
Beautiful Julie.
"Never doubt that a committed individual cannot change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. [Small groups start with one individual,]" Start Loving
4:07 at YOUTUBE
"Never doubt that a committed individual cannot change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. [Small groups start with one individual,]" Start Loving
4:07 at YOUTUBE
BROTHERS AND SISTERS I HAVE NONE
YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED TO BE HURT OR OTHERWISE BY THE FOLLOWING. IT IS NO MORAL JUDGEMENT, AND IT IS ENTIRELY FALLIBLE DUE TO MY AUTHORSHIP.
Today was a great day. But I am really hurting, too. The agony and ecstasy - always together.
Maybe you have children. If not, imagine that you do. Imagine that you have wonderful friends and "family." They love you. They even sacrifice for you! But they don't love your children. And they would not, and do not sacrifice for your children. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL? One of the things you would feel is, "Brothers and sisters I have none!" A void. Because "real" brothers and sisters, "family" WOULD love and sacrifice for your children. Right?
That's how I feel today, a deep void. And deep sadness. And great hopelessness. Nobody loves my Darfur children. ["In the face of suffering Love cannot remain passive," Teresa of Calcutta. (paraphrase)] Nobody can even consider sacrificing for my Darfur children (besides Reeves, Farrow, and two people in Darfur that I know of. FORGIVE MY ERRORS. CORRECT ME.)
I / we Darfuries have no family, including you, right? This is very hard to face. Jesus too has no family - "as you do unto the least of these my family, you do unto me." He too feels the void.
Please God, make this change. Soon. Very, very, very soon. Don't worry about me, and Jesus will be ok too. But the children. And my beloved dear ones here in the states. Bring them more aLive. Please? PLEASE? Make them wake up to the fact that they have divorced, DIVORCED their children, just like I did all those years. This must not stand.
Today was a great day. But I am really hurting, too. The agony and ecstasy - always together.
Maybe you have children. If not, imagine that you do. Imagine that you have wonderful friends and "family." They love you. They even sacrifice for you! But they don't love your children. And they would not, and do not sacrifice for your children. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL? One of the things you would feel is, "Brothers and sisters I have none!" A void. Because "real" brothers and sisters, "family" WOULD love and sacrifice for your children. Right?
That's how I feel today, a deep void. And deep sadness. And great hopelessness. Nobody loves my Darfur children. ["In the face of suffering Love cannot remain passive," Teresa of Calcutta. (paraphrase)] Nobody can even consider sacrificing for my Darfur children (besides Reeves, Farrow, and two people in Darfur that I know of. FORGIVE MY ERRORS. CORRECT ME.)
I / we Darfuries have no family, including you, right? This is very hard to face. Jesus too has no family - "as you do unto the least of these my family, you do unto me." He too feels the void.
Please God, make this change. Soon. Very, very, very soon. Don't worry about me, and Jesus will be ok too. But the children. And my beloved dear ones here in the states. Bring them more aLive. Please? PLEASE? Make them wake up to the fact that they have divorced, DIVORCED their children, just like I did all those years. This must not stand.
Bonnie's blog: Searching for Jesus with Start. Con't
This continues to be a very valuable life and death search for the true Jesus at her Blog: http://www.evangelicaloutpost.com/intellectuelle/archives/003610.html I suggest reading the whole thing. Our discussion of the last few days:
Dear Start,
I do thank you for this conversation. I have nothing new to add but would like to reiterate a few points:
1) You misunderstand love as it is referred to in the two new commandments. It is not a sentimental thing, done merely from passion for humanity. To love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength is to love Him in truth, meaning, for who He is and for the truth about Him, Jesus, ourselves, and the world.
2) The “greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his friends” is from John 15. Earlier in that chapter Jesus says (paraphrased), “unless you remain in me you cannot bear fruit. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch, wither, and be burned.” Then He says, “love one another as I love you. Greater love hath no man...”
The context is important for understanding these verses. I encourage you to read this entire passage as well as the other ones I have quoted.
Laying down one’s life for one’s friends is not the same as destroying one’s life for one’s friends. It means to lay aside one’s ambitions and comforts, and put one’s life on the line should that become necessary. To be willing to die to protect others or for the cause of Christ, as did Stephen (Acts 7:54-60), Joan of Arc, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, hundreds if not thousands of soldiers, and, recently, Professor Librescu at Virginia Tech.
There is no evidence that your efforts will effect help for Darfur. This is not to say that we should not love people unless they love us back, but that our help must be actual. If you have a sense that, by hunger-striking, you have power to help the cause, it is a false sense.
3) My statements about my own involvement in the Darfur crisis are not about how I feel, nor whether I grieve for those who are suffering (I do), but about what I can do. You acknowledge this yourself, that there are many different needs in the world and everyone has different callings.
If those suffering in Darfur are my friends and relatives, then the VVF sufferers in Africa are your sisters, and the people who come to our local soup kitchen are your family too. My own blood and legal relatives are also your relatives, and you and your wife and children and other relatives are mine.
If you are speaking of the entire human family, then the corporate CEOs in this country are your family as well as those who hurl rude words as you picket outside the embassy. As are the members of the Sudanese government and the Arab militia who perpetuated the horrific abuse in the first place.
In peace,
Bonnie
Posted by: Bonnie at May 10, 2007 2:09 PM
Dear Bonnie,
"There is no evidence that your efforts will effect help for Darfur. This is not to say that we should not love people unless they love us back, but that our help must be actual. If you have a sense that, by hunger-striking, you have power to help the cause, it is a false sense."
What a fantastic comment! On what wisdom, knowledge, and expertise do you base this? Have you stopped a genocide before? Me either. Have you repeatedly workes "miraculous" turn-arounds of major situations? I have. Are you quite an expert in nonviolent actions? I am. Are you quite intimate with the traffic patterns, location, my actions, my daily routine, the recent NPR piece... to do with my specific actions and impact regarding Darfur on the people of DC and the nation? Hmmmm.
Also, yes of course I mean all people on the planet are my family. What do you know of me that would suggest anything other than this?
Start Loving
Posted by: Start Loving at May 12, 2007 10:40 PM
Dear Bonnie,
I find honesty and an attempt at truth in what you write. You are blunt with me but with what is at stake this is right. I pray that the same is true of me. I am upset, and I think you are too. I certainly am because I believe the beliefs, the interpretation you help to proliferate bars us from Heaven in this lifetime and the next. And, I suspect you have similar concerns about mine.
I too feel the need to summarize or restate points:
* I believe that your legalistic view of Jesus and His teachings, the 99.99% prevailing view among self proclaimed "Christians" has reduced His teachings to precisely what He died to eliminate. This does not require malice and I make no accusation of any. It requires incredible blindness - that of the Mind ungoverned by a barely functioning Heart.
* What kind of a god would rig this cosmic sweepstakes you seem to believe in? If you draw the lucky circumstances of a sufficiently dogmatic "Christian" family or experience that you profess properly; no matter how much one "does unto the least of these" under your legalistic "Christianity," or some other belief system, the "proper professors" go to Heaven!!!! What kind of "Father" would do such cruel nonsense? NOT A LOVING GOD. Gandhi for example - one of the few followers in history of Jesus ethic of love? One of the few Hearts that Loved all people, as Jesus Loved? Someone for whom Teresa of Calcutta had boundless respect and admiration? HELL FOR THAT MAN!!! He does not profess me as his lord and savior! Do you really want to be in league with such a petty gamester God? I do not. I AM not. Nor was Jesus.
* This legalism (sorry, I don't know a better way to express how I see your beliefs) of your system, you really think a Loving Son of God, a carpenter teaching "fishermen," would come up with such convoluted phrasing and structures? "Well yes, I said, "Love God...," and "Love your neighbor..." and "These are the two commandments." "Hmmm, yes, these sound simple and straightforward but they are not! Be sure to read the context (written 10's or 100's of years later NOT by Jesus!) How cruel! And, He didn't set the real "professing" rule did he? Wasn't that one of the Apostles? Hmm. The real rule for getting into Heaven and the Son of God forgets to mention it, or to make it clear? Odd.
* Are you not the least bit disturbed that your legalistic "Christianity" has produced the most non-Loving ("They will know you by how you Love one another," and from 1 John, "Whoever claims to abide in [Jesus] aught to live just like He lived"), the most un-Jesus-like culture known to man? Consumer Capitalism - "do unto others before they can do unto you" is our true Religion, we U.S. Christians; I implore you to see more about we legalistic "Christians" in a speech by Dom Helder Camara, Archbishop of Recif Brazil at peaceandnonviolence [[dot]]blogspot [[dot]] com/2007/03/fetters-of-injustice-dom-helder-camara. A quote that gives a flavor: "Our responsibility as Christians makes us tremble. The northern hemisphere, the developed area of the world, the 20% who possess 80% of the world’s resources, are of Christian origin. What impression can our African and Asian brethren and the masses in Latin America have of Christianity, if the tree is to be judged by its fruits? For we Christians are largely responsible for the unjust world in which we live... [a social "order"] that consists in leaving millions of God’s children in miserable poverty, should rather be called social disorder, systematized injustice. Private ownership? Is it not evident to everyone that on this point we Christians have abandoned the Fathers of the Church, and that we have ended by attributing divine right to private ownership, whereas God’s law says that the wealth of the world should be shared by all, and should never form odious, oppressive monopolies?"
* Does it not interest you at all that when people, the one in a billion that finds the courage and responds to Jesus not a legalistic entity but as a brilliant, most Loving man in history, people like Gandhi, Bhave, Teresa, Francis of Assisi, ML King you get people that briefly at least, transform the world clearly in the direction of Heaven on Earth? Not so for the Legalists. But they don't really believe in Heaven on Earth do they? Heaven AFTER earth is their interest.
* I could go on, and on. But the above is enough.
I am not trying to argue, or to win an argument; nor that you have been for which I convey my respect. I do think you and I are dialoging on the entirety of matters in life - on the entirety of what we need to get right. And we've been warned that it is extremely difficult to do so. "The will kill you and think they are doing God's will."
Your Loving brother, Start
Dear Start,
I do thank you for this conversation. I have nothing new to add but would like to reiterate a few points:
1) You misunderstand love as it is referred to in the two new commandments. It is not a sentimental thing, done merely from passion for humanity. To love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength is to love Him in truth, meaning, for who He is and for the truth about Him, Jesus, ourselves, and the world.
2) The “greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his friends” is from John 15. Earlier in that chapter Jesus says (paraphrased), “unless you remain in me you cannot bear fruit. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch, wither, and be burned.” Then He says, “love one another as I love you. Greater love hath no man...”
The context is important for understanding these verses. I encourage you to read this entire passage as well as the other ones I have quoted.
Laying down one’s life for one’s friends is not the same as destroying one’s life for one’s friends. It means to lay aside one’s ambitions and comforts, and put one’s life on the line should that become necessary. To be willing to die to protect others or for the cause of Christ, as did Stephen (Acts 7:54-60), Joan of Arc, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, hundreds if not thousands of soldiers, and, recently, Professor Librescu at Virginia Tech.
There is no evidence that your efforts will effect help for Darfur. This is not to say that we should not love people unless they love us back, but that our help must be actual. If you have a sense that, by hunger-striking, you have power to help the cause, it is a false sense.
3) My statements about my own involvement in the Darfur crisis are not about how I feel, nor whether I grieve for those who are suffering (I do), but about what I can do. You acknowledge this yourself, that there are many different needs in the world and everyone has different callings.
If those suffering in Darfur are my friends and relatives, then the VVF sufferers in Africa are your sisters, and the people who come to our local soup kitchen are your family too. My own blood and legal relatives are also your relatives, and you and your wife and children and other relatives are mine.
If you are speaking of the entire human family, then the corporate CEOs in this country are your family as well as those who hurl rude words as you picket outside the embassy. As are the members of the Sudanese government and the Arab militia who perpetuated the horrific abuse in the first place.
In peace,
Bonnie
Posted by: Bonnie at May 10, 2007 2:09 PM
Dear Bonnie,
"There is no evidence that your efforts will effect help for Darfur. This is not to say that we should not love people unless they love us back, but that our help must be actual. If you have a sense that, by hunger-striking, you have power to help the cause, it is a false sense."
What a fantastic comment! On what wisdom, knowledge, and expertise do you base this? Have you stopped a genocide before? Me either. Have you repeatedly workes "miraculous" turn-arounds of major situations? I have. Are you quite an expert in nonviolent actions? I am. Are you quite intimate with the traffic patterns, location, my actions, my daily routine, the recent NPR piece... to do with my specific actions and impact regarding Darfur on the people of DC and the nation? Hmmmm.
Also, yes of course I mean all people on the planet are my family. What do you know of me that would suggest anything other than this?
Start Loving
Posted by: Start Loving at May 12, 2007 10:40 PM
Dear Bonnie,
I find honesty and an attempt at truth in what you write. You are blunt with me but with what is at stake this is right. I pray that the same is true of me. I am upset, and I think you are too. I certainly am because I believe the beliefs, the interpretation you help to proliferate bars us from Heaven in this lifetime and the next. And, I suspect you have similar concerns about mine.
I too feel the need to summarize or restate points:
* I believe that your legalistic view of Jesus and His teachings, the 99.99% prevailing view among self proclaimed "Christians" has reduced His teachings to precisely what He died to eliminate. This does not require malice and I make no accusation of any. It requires incredible blindness - that of the Mind ungoverned by a barely functioning Heart.
* What kind of a god would rig this cosmic sweepstakes you seem to believe in? If you draw the lucky circumstances of a sufficiently dogmatic "Christian" family or experience that you profess properly; no matter how much one "does unto the least of these" under your legalistic "Christianity," or some other belief system, the "proper professors" go to Heaven!!!! What kind of "Father" would do such cruel nonsense? NOT A LOVING GOD. Gandhi for example - one of the few followers in history of Jesus ethic of love? One of the few Hearts that Loved all people, as Jesus Loved? Someone for whom Teresa of Calcutta had boundless respect and admiration? HELL FOR THAT MAN!!! He does not profess me as his lord and savior! Do you really want to be in league with such a petty gamester God? I do not. I AM not. Nor was Jesus.
* This legalism (sorry, I don't know a better way to express how I see your beliefs) of your system, you really think a Loving Son of God, a carpenter teaching "fishermen," would come up with such convoluted phrasing and structures? "Well yes, I said, "Love God...," and "Love your neighbor..." and "These are the two commandments." "Hmmm, yes, these sound simple and straightforward but they are not! Be sure to read the context (written 10's or 100's of years later NOT by Jesus!) How cruel! And, He didn't set the real "professing" rule did he? Wasn't that one of the Apostles? Hmm. The real rule for getting into Heaven and the Son of God forgets to mention it, or to make it clear? Odd.
* Are you not the least bit disturbed that your legalistic "Christianity" has produced the most non-Loving ("They will know you by how you Love one another," and from 1 John, "Whoever claims to abide in [Jesus] aught to live just like He lived"), the most un-Jesus-like culture known to man? Consumer Capitalism - "do unto others before they can do unto you" is our true Religion, we U.S. Christians; I implore you to see more about we legalistic "Christians" in a speech by Dom Helder Camara, Archbishop of Recif Brazil at peaceandnonviolence [[dot]]blogspot [[dot]] com/2007/03/fetters-of-injustice-dom-helder-camara. A quote that gives a flavor: "Our responsibility as Christians makes us tremble. The northern hemisphere, the developed area of the world, the 20% who possess 80% of the world’s resources, are of Christian origin. What impression can our African and Asian brethren and the masses in Latin America have of Christianity, if the tree is to be judged by its fruits? For we Christians are largely responsible for the unjust world in which we live... [a social "order"] that consists in leaving millions of God’s children in miserable poverty, should rather be called social disorder, systematized injustice. Private ownership? Is it not evident to everyone that on this point we Christians have abandoned the Fathers of the Church, and that we have ended by attributing divine right to private ownership, whereas God’s law says that the wealth of the world should be shared by all, and should never form odious, oppressive monopolies?"
* Does it not interest you at all that when people, the one in a billion that finds the courage and responds to Jesus not a legalistic entity but as a brilliant, most Loving man in history, people like Gandhi, Bhave, Teresa, Francis of Assisi, ML King you get people that briefly at least, transform the world clearly in the direction of Heaven on Earth? Not so for the Legalists. But they don't really believe in Heaven on Earth do they? Heaven AFTER earth is their interest.
* I could go on, and on. But the above is enough.
I am not trying to argue, or to win an argument; nor that you have been for which I convey my respect. I do think you and I are dialoging on the entirety of matters in life - on the entirety of what we need to get right. And we've been warned that it is extremely difficult to do so. "The will kill you and think they are doing God's will."
Your Loving brother, Start
5.06.2007
PAIN AND SUFFERING ARE OPTIONAL "LUXURIES"
Briefly, weeks ago when I was bearing levels of pain at the Embassy that are new to me the following gift of awareness came to me.
I imagined that I was in a Holocaust Death Camp where I knew that the truth was - if you limped, you were defective - YOU WERE KILLED INSTANTLY.
Imagine what that meant. I did. "Pain" and "Suffering" became luxuries THAT PEOPLE DID NOT INDULGE.
The point? We have unimagined abilities to IGNORE, TOTALLY DIVERT OUR ATTENTION FROM PAIN AND SUFFERING.
PAIN AND SUFFERING ARE A CHOICE WE MAKE.
I imagined that I was in a Holocaust Death Camp where I knew that the truth was - if you limped, you were defective - YOU WERE KILLED INSTANTLY.
Imagine what that meant. I did. "Pain" and "Suffering" became luxuries THAT PEOPLE DID NOT INDULGE.
The point? We have unimagined abilities to IGNORE, TOTALLY DIVERT OUR ATTENTION FROM PAIN AND SUFFERING.
PAIN AND SUFFERING ARE A CHOICE WE MAKE.
5.05.2007
Start L. - Startle :-)
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source
star·tle Pronunciation verb, -tled, -tling, noun
–verb (used with object)
1. to disturb or agitate suddenly as by surprise or alarm.
2. to cause to start involuntarily, by or as by a sudden shock. –verb (used without object)
3. to start involuntarily, as from a shock of surprise or alarm. –noun
4. a sudden shock of surprise, alarm, or the like.
5. something that startles.
[Origin: bef. 1100; ME stertlen to rush, caper, equiv. to stert(en) to start + -(e)len -le, or continuing OE steartlian to kick, struggle] —Related forms
star·tle·ment, noun
startler, noun
—Synonyms 1. scare, frighten, astonish. See shock1.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
:-)
Start L.
star·tle Pronunciation verb, -tled, -tling, noun
–verb (used with object)
1. to disturb or agitate suddenly as by surprise or alarm.
2. to cause to start involuntarily, by or as by a sudden shock. –verb (used without object)
3. to start involuntarily, as from a shock of surprise or alarm. –noun
4. a sudden shock of surprise, alarm, or the like.
5. something that startles.
[Origin: bef. 1100; ME stertlen to rush, caper, equiv. to stert(en) to start + -(e)len -le, or continuing OE steartlian to kick, struggle] —Related forms
star·tle·ment, noun
startler, noun
—Synonyms 1. scare, frighten, astonish. See shock1.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
:-)
Start L.
The enemy of the GREAT is the GOOD
"The enemy of the great is the good," anonymous. This is simply true. Not sure where I heard it. Maybe at a Steven Covey Executive Leadership Seminar.
USCCB - NAB - Matthew 7 13 7 8 "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. 14 How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.
If you settle for the "good" you will not obtain the "great," you will not live with and walk with God, you will not know Heaven. You will not live a life of Joy, nor will your "children," nor your spouse, nor others that you lead.
USCCB - NAB - Matthew 7 13 7 8 "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. 14 How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.
If you settle for the "good" you will not obtain the "great," you will not live with and walk with God, you will not know Heaven. You will not live a life of Joy, nor will your "children," nor your spouse, nor others that you lead.
Get LOVE (OPPOSITE OF LUST!!!!!) and you Get GOD (OPPOSITE OF MAMMON)!
"When you are on the side of Love you are on the side of God Almighty, and God Almighty is on your side," Start Loving.
I just cannot explain the power I have experienced / witnessed any different. Any miracles for which I have been midwife can only be explained through this almighty power that is released when Love is released / awakened to reign among men.
I just cannot explain the power I have experienced / witnessed any different. Any miracles for which I have been midwife can only be explained through this almighty power that is released when Love is released / awakened to reign among men.
5.04.2007
Christian? GLOBAL FAMILY MEMBER - BROTHER / SISTER.
Self evident? Indisputable?
Not yet family to everyone, or fully dedicated to be so? Not yet Christian.
Not yet family to everyone, or fully dedicated to be so? Not yet Christian.
LIFE DOES NOT GET BETTER THAN THIS
It has been weeks since I've testified / witnessed on this subject.
Never have I borne such physical suffering and sacrifice. Never have I been filled with such Joy / Peace / Love / Life.
Never have I borne such physical suffering and sacrifice. Never have I been filled with such Joy / Peace / Love / Life.
2 DIFFERENT FATHERS. 2 DIFFERENT FAMILIES.
Which "Father" do you choose? Which "Family" do you choose. We cannot avoid choosing. We DO HAVE one Father / Family OR the other.
Jn 8:31-42
They answered and said to him, “Our father is Abraham.”
Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children,
you would be doing the works of Abraham.
But now you are trying to kill me,
a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God;
Abraham did not do this.
You are doing the works of your father!”
So they said to him, “We were not born of fornication.
We have one Father, God.”
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me,
for I came from God and am here;
I did not come on my own, but he sent me.”
I recall reading or hearing little if anything disucssed about these passages or this concept Jesus put forth of 2 families, 2 Fathers. I recall discussions ad nausum about DO NOT JUDGE, nonesene by fauxChristians to enable "Christain" to be a club membership and not a RADICAL WAY OF LIFE - GLOBAL FAMILY.
To serve our brothers we need to become wise in what choice we AND THEY have made. Otherwise, how can we be "Saved," or to "Save?"
Jn 8:31-42
They answered and said to him, “Our father is Abraham.”
Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children,
you would be doing the works of Abraham.
But now you are trying to kill me,
a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God;
Abraham did not do this.
You are doing the works of your father!”
So they said to him, “We were not born of fornication.
We have one Father, God.”
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me,
for I came from God and am here;
I did not come on my own, but he sent me.”
I recall reading or hearing little if anything disucssed about these passages or this concept Jesus put forth of 2 families, 2 Fathers. I recall discussions ad nausum about DO NOT JUDGE, nonesene by fauxChristians to enable "Christain" to be a club membership and not a RADICAL WAY OF LIFE - GLOBAL FAMILY.
To serve our brothers we need to become wise in what choice we AND THEY have made. Otherwise, how can we be "Saved," or to "Save?"
GOD'S ECONOMY - "GLOBAL FAMILY" EXISTS (opposite of Consumer Capitalism)
Chief Maquinna, Nootka: "Once I was in Victoria, and I saw a very large house. They told me it was a bank and that the white men place their money there to be taken care of, and that by and by they got it back with interest. "We are Indians and we have no such bank; but when we have plenty of money or blankets, we give them away to other chiefs and people, and by and by they return them with interest, and our hearts feel good. Our way of giving is our bank."
1ST EXAMPLE OF GOD'S ECONOMY: "...He said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 Jesus replied, "A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. 31 12 A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. 32 Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
33 But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. 34 He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him.
35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, 'Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.' 36 Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers' victim?" 37 He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." The victim (brother in need) did not request help, did not pay, yet he was fully and lovingly cared for. How did this happen? He had a genuine, Humane need. A brother, and un-dehumanized fellow being "saw" the need.
2ND EXAMPLE OF GOD'S ECONOMY: 2ND week of January 2007 Start Loving arrived at the White House with a few $'s in his pocket, zero plan for "survival" but a determination to give his life as effectively as possible to save his Darfur family. Well almost five months later Start Loving is alive and well. If he has "earned" his "survival," his "flourishing" actually it has been through continuing to give his life to "the least of these," and this has evoked Love / God in others to keep Her Son, Her brother alive. Three people in particular, but dozens in small ways have made it their business to keep their "brother" Start among them - alive and well. The only time I can remembering asking for anything is this weekend when my beloved sister who along with her husband have offered "whatever you need, whenever!" was asked by me to fund a book I desperately wanted for her family, the price of coffee and a plain bagle, Septa fare of $4.00, and $10 for a new watch battery. Over all that time Love / God through Her instruments large and small have "seen" the need and provided with no request of any kind from me:
* five months of food
* warm clothes
* shelter agains extreme weather
* water
* vitimins
* transportation as required
* assistance with the campaign - blogging, promotion, networking...
* new posters ($130)
PLEASE PONDER THESE TWO EXAMPLES: [TO BE CONTINUED]
1ST EXAMPLE OF GOD'S ECONOMY: "...He said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 Jesus replied, "A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. 31 12 A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. 32 Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
33 But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. 34 He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him.
35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, 'Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.' 36 Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers' victim?" 37 He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." The victim (brother in need) did not request help, did not pay, yet he was fully and lovingly cared for. How did this happen? He had a genuine, Humane need. A brother, and un-dehumanized fellow being "saw" the need.
2ND EXAMPLE OF GOD'S ECONOMY: 2ND week of January 2007 Start Loving arrived at the White House with a few $'s in his pocket, zero plan for "survival" but a determination to give his life as effectively as possible to save his Darfur family. Well almost five months later Start Loving is alive and well. If he has "earned" his "survival," his "flourishing" actually it has been through continuing to give his life to "the least of these," and this has evoked Love / God in others to keep Her Son, Her brother alive. Three people in particular, but dozens in small ways have made it their business to keep their "brother" Start among them - alive and well. The only time I can remembering asking for anything is this weekend when my beloved sister who along with her husband have offered "whatever you need, whenever!" was asked by me to fund a book I desperately wanted for her family, the price of coffee and a plain bagle, Septa fare of $4.00, and $10 for a new watch battery. Over all that time Love / God through Her instruments large and small have "seen" the need and provided with no request of any kind from me:
* five months of food
* warm clothes
* shelter agains extreme weather
* water
* vitimins
* transportation as required
* assistance with the campaign - blogging, promotion, networking...
* new posters ($130)
PLEASE PONDER THESE TWO EXAMPLES: [TO BE CONTINUED]
Start L.'s Tattoo, Hair, finances, etc.
5/5/07 4:34pm
I posted this title yesterday. Since 10:15am this morning I've been sponging free wi-fi and coffee refils off of Panera bread while my Phila family does their retail business. Panera is a pretty upscale, sophisticated clientelle.
45 minutes ago the manager came over to my table. One might have expected a bit of irritation at a "sponger," "wierdo" in an orange sweatshirt with a TATTO ON HIS HEAD!
The manager is maybe 25. A big, handsome fella. Slight baby face. Strong people skills. Well suited to managing a pretty big, prestigeous business like this.
Well, he did come over because of the tattoo. HE WANTED TO TALK JESUS. And we did for about 20 minutes. No hold barred. He was pleased and excited by the tattoo. He knows scripture 100 times better than me. Obvously he is not nearly as radical as me, but he is a genuine seeker - not a dogmatist.
----------------------
If you and I were sitting together at this moment within feet of one another and I was bouncing, shaking, jerking, rising, falling... you'd be pretty concerned and freaked out! In fact, under conditions that we in this sick society consider "normal" I too would be freaked out!
Unless we were sitting together in a raft going down Class 5 Rapids. You would not be freaked out because of course you could see that I was being acted upon by forces way beyond my control (unless I chose to steer over to the bank and got on dry land).
Well, not Class 5 Rapids have I thrown myself on, but rather the ultimate force of Jesus / God / Love / Life. RESULTS INCLUDE:
You who know me know that I am a pretty observant, sensative guy. You who do not know me can somewhat assume this when you consider that my livelyhood (pretty big bucks) has depended on such traits - executive management, sales, retail.... Well, these characteristics have only improved and using them I'll report that since the tattoo, clothes, hair... what encounters I've had these have not yet been any sort of negative! Yes, it is possible that they have prevented encounters that otherwise would have happened; AND DOUBLESS THIS WILL BE THE CASE AS MONTHS AND YEARS GO ON! But those are by definition encounters I don't have time for now, and for the role I need to play on earth, I never will have time for (See post: STARTING A MOVEMENT? EXCLUDE THE MASSES!!!!!!!!).
I posted this title yesterday. Since 10:15am this morning I've been sponging free wi-fi and coffee refils off of Panera bread while my Phila family does their retail business. Panera is a pretty upscale, sophisticated clientelle.
45 minutes ago the manager came over to my table. One might have expected a bit of irritation at a "sponger," "wierdo" in an orange sweatshirt with a TATTO ON HIS HEAD!
The manager is maybe 25. A big, handsome fella. Slight baby face. Strong people skills. Well suited to managing a pretty big, prestigeous business like this.
Well, he did come over because of the tattoo. HE WANTED TO TALK JESUS. And we did for about 20 minutes. No hold barred. He was pleased and excited by the tattoo. He knows scripture 100 times better than me. Obvously he is not nearly as radical as me, but he is a genuine seeker - not a dogmatist.
----------------------
If you and I were sitting together at this moment within feet of one another and I was bouncing, shaking, jerking, rising, falling... you'd be pretty concerned and freaked out! In fact, under conditions that we in this sick society consider "normal" I too would be freaked out!
Unless we were sitting together in a raft going down Class 5 Rapids. You would not be freaked out because of course you could see that I was being acted upon by forces way beyond my control (unless I chose to steer over to the bank and got on dry land).
Well, not Class 5 Rapids have I thrown myself on, but rather the ultimate force of Jesus / God / Love / Life. RESULTS INCLUDE:
- My hair is extremely long.
- My clothes are border getto / sloppy.
- Homeless, pennyless living on the street.
- The tattoo!??!? Oh my.
You who know me know that I am a pretty observant, sensative guy. You who do not know me can somewhat assume this when you consider that my livelyhood (pretty big bucks) has depended on such traits - executive management, sales, retail.... Well, these characteristics have only improved and using them I'll report that since the tattoo, clothes, hair... what encounters I've had these have not yet been any sort of negative! Yes, it is possible that they have prevented encounters that otherwise would have happened; AND DOUBLESS THIS WILL BE THE CASE AS MONTHS AND YEARS GO ON! But those are by definition encounters I don't have time for now, and for the role I need to play on earth, I never will have time for (See post: STARTING A MOVEMENT? EXCLUDE THE MASSES!!!!!!!!).
- And, would there have been a sectional front page big spread, highly favorable article in the Washington Post (A Hunger For Justice - washingtonpost.com) if I had NOT had these new, abnormal attributes? WITH 2 HUGE PICTURES? WITH FEATURING ON THEIR WEB PAGE?
- And would the Panera manager have come over for an important, Sacred encounter?
- Would a handful of the finest young souls imaginable, real Truth seekers, have at significant effort made and maintained contact with me?
- Would a woman in Camden on the bus have come and sat next to me having seen the tattoo to ask about it, smile, and deeply enjoy the encounter?
- Would several of the most heroic activists in the world be deeply in support of my efforts (Ellen, Thomas, Dianne, Anne).
- Etc.
- Etc....
It proves nothing, but I find it more than an interesting comparison:
MatthewChapter 11 6 Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. 9 Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? 7 Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written: 'Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.' 11 Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist....
- Marines are a specialized role. They do not look "normal" except in the context of being a Marine.
- Bouncers do not look normal, except in the context of their jobs.
- M.D.'s are usually in scrubs and nurses in uniforms.
Start Loving is a would be Saviour.
------------------
That Panera manager just came back and we talked Jesus for another 20 minutes. :-)
SATAN NOT JESUS WOULD BLOCK "HEAVEN" WITH DOGMA
An honest dialog with some "Christians" elicited comments from me including the following:
"What do you think Jesus, our Brother, or God our Father will examine us regarding when they are deciding whether for us it is Heaven or Hell? From your site in my reading last night it seems you believe They will focus on what we believed - whether we ascribed to the right dogmatic beliefs [professing Resurrection, "Son of God," etc]. Do you think God and Jesus are gamers? Are they so narrow, bored, twisted, sadistic... that you think they have set up some sort of Beliefs Obstacle Course and if you obey the right few rules, recite the correct Dogma, have the right few "beliefs" you win; otherwise hell forever. Come on folks, that is Satan! Satan would do that.
God is our Father/Mother. Jesus is our Master and Brother. They love us. They don't need anything from us. Like all good Family they only WANT FOR us.
They want us to LOVE OUR BROTHERS AS OUR SELF, for our Joy of it, for the Kingdom Coming of it. This, THIS is the only thing they will discuss with us, examine us regarding as to our destination of Heaven or Hell. 'Did you love your brother as yourself? Did you do unto the least of these All that you would have them do unto you,' THIS is all they will discuss with us.
To decide anything else from Jesus words is to decide again that He is a trickster, with an enormous ego that wants to be amused and flattered by watching us writhe around trying to guess what He wants to please / pleasure Him. If that is what they are, God and Jesus, I'll take their Hell any day.
But that is not them. The are pure love for us as Father / Brother / Mother / Master. Like all such, they want Heaven on Earth for us that as they promised is guaranteed: THY KINGDOM COMES AS THY WILL IS DONE. Doing Their will as best we can imagine it for the least of these their family...
1. Gives the doer complete Joy, Peace, Love, Life exactly as Jesus promised;
2. Moves the material world in the direction of what our Father's Kingdom here should be - Perfect Brotherhood.
Your always Loving brother, Start
"What do you think Jesus, our Brother, or God our Father will examine us regarding when they are deciding whether for us it is Heaven or Hell? From your site in my reading last night it seems you believe They will focus on what we believed - whether we ascribed to the right dogmatic beliefs [professing Resurrection, "Son of God," etc]. Do you think God and Jesus are gamers? Are they so narrow, bored, twisted, sadistic... that you think they have set up some sort of Beliefs Obstacle Course and if you obey the right few rules, recite the correct Dogma, have the right few "beliefs" you win; otherwise hell forever. Come on folks, that is Satan! Satan would do that.
God is our Father/Mother. Jesus is our Master and Brother. They love us. They don't need anything from us. Like all good Family they only WANT FOR us.
They want us to LOVE OUR BROTHERS AS OUR SELF, for our Joy of it, for the Kingdom Coming of it. This, THIS is the only thing they will discuss with us, examine us regarding as to our destination of Heaven or Hell. 'Did you love your brother as yourself? Did you do unto the least of these All that you would have them do unto you,' THIS is all they will discuss with us.
To decide anything else from Jesus words is to decide again that He is a trickster, with an enormous ego that wants to be amused and flattered by watching us writhe around trying to guess what He wants to please / pleasure Him. If that is what they are, God and Jesus, I'll take their Hell any day.
But that is not them. The are pure love for us as Father / Brother / Mother / Master. Like all such, they want Heaven on Earth for us that as they promised is guaranteed: THY KINGDOM COMES AS THY WILL IS DONE. Doing Their will as best we can imagine it for the least of these their family...
1. Gives the doer complete Joy, Peace, Love, Life exactly as Jesus promised;
2. Moves the material world in the direction of what our Father's Kingdom here should be - Perfect Brotherhood.
Your always Loving brother, Start
The "Kingdom" never can be forced
The "Kingdom," the Heart never can be forced. Attempts to Force, Coerce or Trick at best will long delay, if not forever prevent the movement from Hell / Flesh into the Kingdom / Heart.
PARABLE OF: "DO NOT WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT YOU WILL EAT...."
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
Matthew 6 25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?
Probably for every person that goes hang-gliding (wind surfing, parasailing, parachuting, skiing, mountain climbing, whitewater rafting...) 1,000 thrill to the idea because their nervous system resonates positively, but do not try it for a variety of related reasons: too dangerous, too scary, too hard, too weird.... They just cannot imagine doing it themselves: deficient VISION, IMAGINATION, COURAGE, PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH... and yes, maybe physical, financial or moral reasons!
Hay START!!!!!!!! to the point please!!!! Hmmmm.
FOLLOWING LOVE / LIFE / JOY (JESUS / GOD) IS LIKE THESE OTHER "DANGEROUS," "TERRIFYING" ACTIVITIES. IT REQUIRES TREMENDOUS VISION, IMAGINATION, COURAGE, PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH!
WHY? BECAUSE FOLLOWING JESUS / GOD DEFIES ALL THE COMFORT-ZONE ISSUES OF THE FLESH / BODY / SELFISHNESS!!!
BUT I AM DOING IT NOW, FOR MONTHS NOW (and really pretty extremely for going on 12 years now). OH MY GOD, IT IS AWESOME:
Matthew 6 25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?
Probably for every person that goes hang-gliding (wind surfing, parasailing, parachuting, skiing, mountain climbing, whitewater rafting...) 1,000 thrill to the idea because their nervous system resonates positively, but do not try it for a variety of related reasons: too dangerous, too scary, too hard, too weird.... They just cannot imagine doing it themselves: deficient VISION, IMAGINATION, COURAGE, PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH... and yes, maybe physical, financial or moral reasons!
Hay START!!!!!!!! to the point please!!!! Hmmmm.
FOLLOWING LOVE / LIFE / JOY (JESUS / GOD) IS LIKE THESE OTHER "DANGEROUS," "TERRIFYING" ACTIVITIES. IT REQUIRES TREMENDOUS VISION, IMAGINATION, COURAGE, PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH!
WHY? BECAUSE FOLLOWING JESUS / GOD DEFIES ALL THE COMFORT-ZONE ISSUES OF THE FLESH / BODY / SELFISHNESS!!!
BUT I AM DOING IT NOW, FOR MONTHS NOW (and really pretty extremely for going on 12 years now). OH MY GOD, IT IS AWESOME:
- It looks like you will literally starve, but you do not. You have everything you need!!!!!!!!!
- It looks like your life will consist of misery, but it is nothing but Joy / Life / Love every second. Yes, and Agony (but in the background).
- It looks like you will be alone, but you have true family / friends in abundance for the first time, or to an extreme for the first time.
- It looks like you are leaving behind the ability to impact the world (no resources, transportation, technology, connections...) but actually you gain participation in / partnership with Life / Love - GOD - the greatest power in the universe!
- Etc.
Why would I lie about this? THERE IS NOTHING FOR ME TO GAIN SELFISHLY BY LYING TO YOU.
Parable of the 'seed falling on the path, rocky soil...."
Mark 4 3 "Hear this! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots. 7 Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain. 8 And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold."
Well duh, but for me only within recent days is this scripture coming alive for me. It is coming alive as I watch / experience the results of various encounters I have with folks as they encounter what is up with my walk / path / Life:
* Someone says after asking what I need: "Oh, I'll bring you water!," and then never comes back. SEED ON THE PATH.
* Another says: "I'll be back!" and is, once, and never again." SEED ON THE ROCKY SOIL.
* Another says: "Wow, this guy might be the most courageous guy, Jesus following guy, I've ever heard of!" But their friends say different and contact ends. SEED AMONG THE THORNS.
* Another says (though their behavior): "What an irritating jerk!" And then brings water and whatever is needed every day, day after day." SEED ON FERTILE SOIL.
And there are many cases I am experiencing and recognizing in these four categories as the days go on.
How long will we choose Hell by ignoring the directions to Heaven that Jesus gave us?
Well duh, but for me only within recent days is this scripture coming alive for me. It is coming alive as I watch / experience the results of various encounters I have with folks as they encounter what is up with my walk / path / Life:
* Someone says after asking what I need: "Oh, I'll bring you water!," and then never comes back. SEED ON THE PATH.
* Another says: "I'll be back!" and is, once, and never again." SEED ON THE ROCKY SOIL.
* Another says: "Wow, this guy might be the most courageous guy, Jesus following guy, I've ever heard of!" But their friends say different and contact ends. SEED AMONG THE THORNS.
* Another says (though their behavior): "What an irritating jerk!" And then brings water and whatever is needed every day, day after day." SEED ON FERTILE SOIL.
And there are many cases I am experiencing and recognizing in these four categories as the days go on.
How long will we choose Hell by ignoring the directions to Heaven that Jesus gave us?
Ransom. Redeem.
"A man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act," Gandhi
As always in my life of recent years, I'm doing stuff led by Love (God) and therefore my Head can't make sense of what I am doing till quite a bit afterward. This occurs almost daily - beginning to realize way after the fact what sense there is in this or that decision that I've made or path that I've been walking.
That Jesus somehow Ransomed our Lives and Redeemed us is written of in the Bible.
Now this is beginning to make sense to me as I see what Love / Life / Truth (God) has me doing.
THE ONLY WAY TO ESTABLISH THE PRICE / VALUE OF SOMETHING AND TO ACQUIRE IT IS TO PAY THE PRICE WHEN NECESSARY / REQUIRED. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY. RIGHT? A PHYSICAL IMPOSSIBILITY; OR AT LEAST VIOLATING THIS TRUISM IS AN EXTREME IMPRACTICALITY. [In other words how to you establish the fact of extreme Love / Unconditional Love without - SHOWING COMPLETE, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE; THE EXISTENCE OF GOD.]
The point?!?!?! To show us how desperately important it is to purchase our lives back from Selfishness / Lust / Flesh in order to return us to the health of our "home" state / condition of Love / Life / Joy... Jesus had to PAY THE PRICE / REDEEM US / RANSOM US - BY GIVING HIS LIFE FOR US.
Well, the price (ransom, redemption) in such matters does not have to be either set or paid in 100% of the transactions. (Ahh, that this were true in the purchase of AIDS drugs for example; that we could purchase one prescription and then get refills for a lifetime!) But it DOES have to be done (Set, Paid) in some %: 1%? 10%? For example, for a child to truly know that his/her parent loves them to the extreme, the parent does not need to surmount an emergency out of love for them every hour. But it probably does need to happen several times within the child's youth!
We shouldn't need a Jesus in our lives sacrificing His life for us to the extreme every day or year. But WAY MORE THAN ONCE EVERY 2,000 YEARS IS NEEDED!!!!
[Start, you are rambling!] Hmmm. I'm called to BE Ransom, the price of Redemption... for Chester children, Darfur.... and maybe many causes in the future. And, YOU are AT A MINIMUM called by Love / God to be the price Ransom / Redemption for some Loved one(s) in your life in an obvious emergency.
ALL HUMAN BEINGS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO ATTAIN RELATIVELY FULL PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH (a tiny minority of us in today's ultimately TOXIC CULTURE tragically) are called to be Redemption / Ransom for Humanity pretty extremely as a mainstay of our lives until the planet begins to get back on track.
By the way, being called to a life of extreme Redemption / Ransom within the realm of Joy / Love / Life is the equivalent of winning the $1 billion Lottery in the world of Selfishness / Flesh / Mammon. Life does not get better than this.
[I hope you stayed with this post. Sorry I couldn't do better with it. Yet.]
As always in my life of recent years, I'm doing stuff led by Love (God) and therefore my Head can't make sense of what I am doing till quite a bit afterward. This occurs almost daily - beginning to realize way after the fact what sense there is in this or that decision that I've made or path that I've been walking.
That Jesus somehow Ransomed our Lives and Redeemed us is written of in the Bible.
Now this is beginning to make sense to me as I see what Love / Life / Truth (God) has me doing.
THE ONLY WAY TO ESTABLISH THE PRICE / VALUE OF SOMETHING AND TO ACQUIRE IT IS TO PAY THE PRICE WHEN NECESSARY / REQUIRED. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY. RIGHT? A PHYSICAL IMPOSSIBILITY; OR AT LEAST VIOLATING THIS TRUISM IS AN EXTREME IMPRACTICALITY. [In other words how to you establish the fact of extreme Love / Unconditional Love without - SHOWING COMPLETE, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE; THE EXISTENCE OF GOD.]
The point?!?!?! To show us how desperately important it is to purchase our lives back from Selfishness / Lust / Flesh in order to return us to the health of our "home" state / condition of Love / Life / Joy... Jesus had to PAY THE PRICE / REDEEM US / RANSOM US - BY GIVING HIS LIFE FOR US.
Well, the price (ransom, redemption) in such matters does not have to be either set or paid in 100% of the transactions. (Ahh, that this were true in the purchase of AIDS drugs for example; that we could purchase one prescription and then get refills for a lifetime!) But it DOES have to be done (Set, Paid) in some %: 1%? 10%? For example, for a child to truly know that his/her parent loves them to the extreme, the parent does not need to surmount an emergency out of love for them every hour. But it probably does need to happen several times within the child's youth!
We shouldn't need a Jesus in our lives sacrificing His life for us to the extreme every day or year. But WAY MORE THAN ONCE EVERY 2,000 YEARS IS NEEDED!!!!
[Start, you are rambling!] Hmmm. I'm called to BE Ransom, the price of Redemption... for Chester children, Darfur.... and maybe many causes in the future. And, YOU are AT A MINIMUM called by Love / God to be the price Ransom / Redemption for some Loved one(s) in your life in an obvious emergency.
ALL HUMAN BEINGS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO ATTAIN RELATIVELY FULL PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH (a tiny minority of us in today's ultimately TOXIC CULTURE tragically) are called to be Redemption / Ransom for Humanity pretty extremely as a mainstay of our lives until the planet begins to get back on track.
By the way, being called to a life of extreme Redemption / Ransom within the realm of Joy / Love / Life is the equivalent of winning the $1 billion Lottery in the world of Selfishness / Flesh / Mammon. Life does not get better than this.
[I hope you stayed with this post. Sorry I couldn't do better with it. Yet.]
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE TO GOD, NOT TO PEOPLE.
"Love / Life / Truth are God," Start Loving (paraphrase of Gandhi, Paul, Teresa, Jesus....)
"I will admit but one tyrant in my life, the still small voice within," Gandhi.
If I am inebriated out of my mind, hit by a car, bleeding to death on the side of the road, an MD walks by and in my stupor I yell that I do NOT want help, what is the moral / humane responsibility of the M.D.? She, the M.D. is obligated by her independence, knowledge, ability and humanity to help, TO DIAGNOSE THE NEED AND ACT TO HER BEST ABILITY, DESPITE MY STATED WISHES.
YOU ARE IN NO DIFFERENT OF A POSITION. You can never defer your responsibility to another. If you defer to the desires, wishes, judgement of another, including your dearest (spouse, child, parent...) THAT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
YOU AND ME must always judge what is best for our brothers and sisters and to act accordingly, exactly as the M.D. is obligated to do. We can never escape this.
We must keep ourselves before (what we can imagine or pretend of an all knowing, all Loving) God as judge of what we do.
Clearly God will never accept from me or you, "Well Father, I did it because it is what so-and-so wanted!"
Pretty lame, huh?
"I will admit but one tyrant in my life, the still small voice within," Gandhi.
If I am inebriated out of my mind, hit by a car, bleeding to death on the side of the road, an MD walks by and in my stupor I yell that I do NOT want help, what is the moral / humane responsibility of the M.D.? She, the M.D. is obligated by her independence, knowledge, ability and humanity to help, TO DIAGNOSE THE NEED AND ACT TO HER BEST ABILITY, DESPITE MY STATED WISHES.
YOU ARE IN NO DIFFERENT OF A POSITION. You can never defer your responsibility to another. If you defer to the desires, wishes, judgement of another, including your dearest (spouse, child, parent...) THAT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
YOU AND ME must always judge what is best for our brothers and sisters and to act accordingly, exactly as the M.D. is obligated to do. We can never escape this.
We must keep ourselves before (what we can imagine or pretend of an all knowing, all Loving) God as judge of what we do.
Clearly God will never accept from me or you, "Well Father, I did it because it is what so-and-so wanted!"
Pretty lame, huh?
YOU ARE A LEADER. YOU CANNOT ESCAPE THAT FACT.
We all influence others, we all lead others. This is the meaning of our lives - how we influence others.
Even in death, even after our individual death, our life will go on influencing everyone that was influenced by us in life, and everyone and everything that they influence.
This is an awesome, wonderful opportunity.
YOUR LIFE HAS MEANING. You cannot escape this. What will the meaning be for your "dearest," for "the least of these," etc, etc....
"Never think that an individual cannot change the world. It is the only thing that ever has," Start Loving.
Even in death, even after our individual death, our life will go on influencing everyone that was influenced by us in life, and everyone and everything that they influence.
This is an awesome, wonderful opportunity.
YOUR LIFE HAS MEANING. You cannot escape this. What will the meaning be for your "dearest," for "the least of these," etc, etc....
"Never think that an individual cannot change the world. It is the only thing that ever has," Start Loving.
HER BABY'S LIFE IS WORTH $10 TRILLION
Everything I live and preach comes down to this central understanding and belief - HER BABY'S LIFE IS WORTH $10 TRILLION - and that "she" makes this choice out of preference - it feels better than the $10 trillion would make her feel.
What this situation proves is that Joy (that comes from advancing the life of "the least of these" - her baby in my example) trumps Pleasure ($10 trillion). THIS IS ROOTED IN OUR DNA.
What I give my life to lead people to is - all waking hours experiencing Joy / Life / Truth fully. Experience of Joy / Life / Truth happens with certainty, and only happens at all when one keeps theirself, acting from from their heart Heart / Soul, in the service of "the least of these (their baby, Darfuries, Palestinians, inner city youth....)" When the nervous system senses that service of "the least of these" is happening, the chemical cocktail Joy is released. Unlike the cocktail "pleasure" the Joy cocktail can flow with undiminished effect the waking part of 24/7 X 100 years!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and [that] your joy may be complete. (Jn. 15:9-11)
What this situation proves is that Joy (that comes from advancing the life of "the least of these" - her baby in my example) trumps Pleasure ($10 trillion). THIS IS ROOTED IN OUR DNA.
What I give my life to lead people to is - all waking hours experiencing Joy / Life / Truth fully. Experience of Joy / Life / Truth happens with certainty, and only happens at all when one keeps theirself, acting from from their heart Heart / Soul, in the service of "the least of these (their baby, Darfuries, Palestinians, inner city youth....)" When the nervous system senses that service of "the least of these" is happening, the chemical cocktail Joy is released. Unlike the cocktail "pleasure" the Joy cocktail can flow with undiminished effect the waking part of 24/7 X 100 years!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and [that] your joy may be complete. (Jn. 15:9-11)
PROSTITUTION: "DEVOTING ONE'S TALENT TO UNWORTHY CAUSE..."
PROSTITUTION: 2. The act or an instance of offering or devoting one's talent to an unworthy use or cause. American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source
"History is made by... people who commit their lives..." Dave Dellinger
"History is made by people who commit themselves, their lives, and their energies to the struggle." David Dellinger
5.03.2007
"Witness;" this word is applied to me. VISION is meant?
The first time I remember hearing the word "witness" was from the writer that did the 12/31/01 Phila Inquirer article on the work I was doing for the children in Chester, PA. Months before the article come out he was interviewing me at a diner and told me I was a "witness." I had no idea what he was talking about. I did not understand it then. I am just beginning to understand.
The next times I recall hearing "witness" was from the God-send of a writer of the Washington Post article Start Loving, Day 64 Sudan Embassy Hunger Strike (A Hunger For Justice : Darfur Becomes One Man's Cause for Deprivation Delphine Schrank, C01 (Post) Washington Post, April 14, 2007). She frequently spoke of "witness" in conjunction with me.
Now, what I HAVE long associated with myself is Vision - seeing things that others don't: crucial situations, dire threats, enormous opportunities, paths toward achievement of those opportunities. I suspect that what these others have called "witness" corresponds closely to the capacity I seem to have for Vision.
I'm guessing that their word "witness" captures an aspect of behavior - the "witness" becomes a moral captive of what they have seen - knowledge is responsibility. The witness is obligated to act.
This is how I feel when a Vision developes within me and captivates me. Currently the Visions that captivate me are of:
The next times I recall hearing "witness" was from the God-send of a writer of the Washington Post article Start Loving, Day 64 Sudan Embassy Hunger Strike (A Hunger For Justice : Darfur Becomes One Man's Cause for Deprivation Delphine Schrank, C01 (Post) Washington Post, April 14, 2007). She frequently spoke of "witness" in conjunction with me.
Now, what I HAVE long associated with myself is Vision - seeing things that others don't: crucial situations, dire threats, enormous opportunities, paths toward achievement of those opportunities. I suspect that what these others have called "witness" corresponds closely to the capacity I seem to have for Vision.
I'm guessing that their word "witness" captures an aspect of behavior - the "witness" becomes a moral captive of what they have seen - knowledge is responsibility. The witness is obligated to act.
This is how I feel when a Vision developes within me and captivates me. Currently the Visions that captivate me are of:
- The easy and crucial Rescue and Restore of Darfur;
- The Redemption of our lost Humanity by the crying need of our Darfur family before so little Humanity is left on earth that entropy finishes us off;
- That "global family" must finally and immediately come to reign or it is game over for InHumane earth;
- That Heaven on Earth is immediately available to each and any person that dedicates themself to being "family" to all of Humanity.
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