4.10.2009
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.
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.
4.03.2009
"Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul." Edward Abbey !!! URGENT !!!
- Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul.
- Edward Abbey, A Voice Crying in the Wilderness,US radical environmentalist (1927 - 1989)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQW1kf05Yyk
DN!!!! 10 yrs PRISON for HERO of Utah Parks!!!!!!
YOU will do WHAT?
4.02.2009
Slowing down on posting for a while. Double Shifts at the White House
Troy, who with Connie and me have been maintaining the Vigil is away for several weeks. Hence my computer time is cut to nil. I'm sure I'll sneak some time in, but not much.
***** A Progressive Budget Alternative
Our budget starts with an ambitious agenda to address the most pressing matters facing America today. We invest $991 billion in non-defense discretionary spending for fiscal year 2010, which is $469 billion over the President's budget. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lynn-woolsey/a-progressive-budget-alte_b_182001.html
Truth is, I "get" Jesus; and currently I've got a powerful pulpit (in front of the White House)
Well, if I don't "get" Jesus it is time to lock me away.
But I've no shred of a doubt that I do "get" Jesus. It is just so obvious to me because my understanding of what he taught and how he lived is the perfect-fitting cornerstone integrating seamlessly with all I've studied and learned these many years now in the realms of psychology, literature, cinema, sociology, neuro-biology, religion, philosophy... and PERSONAL MINUTE BY MINUTE LIFE PRACTICE AND EXPERIENCE for decades now. I was a world-class skiier in my youth. Not so much because others said so, which they did. But because the Truth said so - the Truth of how my understanding and action interracted with the Mountain and Snow. Undeniably I had become an Authority.
Last night was not atypical at the White House ( prop1.org ). A crowd of high school age students from around the country with a group called Close Up came by. Somewhat uncharacteristically the conversation was turned by them from the topics of nuclear disarmament and climate change that I stressed, to the crosses on my head, and Jesus. As typically happens one of the students took the role of asking me questions and commenting. In this case she was from a fundamentalist Christian viewpoint. Obviously she was honestly concerned / disturbed as my beliefs unfolded before her in our dialog:
* The man, not some mysticism is what I am inspired by, as was the Hindu Gandhi;
* Jesus concern was Heaven IN THIS LIFE for us, not some later life.
* Of course the Bible is fallible - a hazy window at best back through 2000 years and thousands of authors with who knows what agendas.
* Jesus is the most perfect model we have of Universal Love.
* Yes we are born with an evil spirit (conditional love), AND the Spirit of Universal Love.
* Jesus died that he might save us from the evil spirit, and win us for Universal Love.
* And if there is a Heaven after this life, that's not my business. My business is to "do unto the least of these (NOT the Lesser of these)," "lay down my life for my brother," "do unto others ALL that I would have them do unto me"....
My interrogator was not upset, and even was moved somewhat by my views. But the crowd with her was deeply encouraged by and grateful for the views I shared, as they made an impassioned and aggressive effort to communicate their agreement to me as they were departing. "Oh, I sssooooo agree with everything you said!"
What did Jesus say about being the "salt;" the "levin?"
A friend I used to have said, "Start, why don't you become a priest?"
I'll settle for Appostle / Disciple,
at the gates of the Global Empire,
at the dicisionpoint for the future of all Humanity.
:-)
But I've no shred of a doubt that I do "get" Jesus. It is just so obvious to me because my understanding of what he taught and how he lived is the perfect-fitting cornerstone integrating seamlessly with all I've studied and learned these many years now in the realms of psychology, literature, cinema, sociology, neuro-biology, religion, philosophy... and PERSONAL MINUTE BY MINUTE LIFE PRACTICE AND EXPERIENCE for decades now. I was a world-class skiier in my youth. Not so much because others said so, which they did. But because the Truth said so - the Truth of how my understanding and action interracted with the Mountain and Snow. Undeniably I had become an Authority.
Last night was not atypical at the White House ( prop1.org ). A crowd of high school age students from around the country with a group called Close Up came by. Somewhat uncharacteristically the conversation was turned by them from the topics of nuclear disarmament and climate change that I stressed, to the crosses on my head, and Jesus. As typically happens one of the students took the role of asking me questions and commenting. In this case she was from a fundamentalist Christian viewpoint. Obviously she was honestly concerned / disturbed as my beliefs unfolded before her in our dialog:
* The man, not some mysticism is what I am inspired by, as was the Hindu Gandhi;
* Jesus concern was Heaven IN THIS LIFE for us, not some later life.
* Of course the Bible is fallible - a hazy window at best back through 2000 years and thousands of authors with who knows what agendas.
* Jesus is the most perfect model we have of Universal Love.
* Yes we are born with an evil spirit (conditional love), AND the Spirit of Universal Love.
* Jesus died that he might save us from the evil spirit, and win us for Universal Love.
* And if there is a Heaven after this life, that's not my business. My business is to "do unto the least of these (NOT the Lesser of these)," "lay down my life for my brother," "do unto others ALL that I would have them do unto me"....
My interrogator was not upset, and even was moved somewhat by my views. But the crowd with her was deeply encouraged by and grateful for the views I shared, as they made an impassioned and aggressive effort to communicate their agreement to me as they were departing. "Oh, I sssooooo agree with everything you said!"
What did Jesus say about being the "salt;" the "levin?"
A friend I used to have said, "Start, why don't you become a priest?"
I'll settle for Appostle / Disciple,
at the gates of the Global Empire,
at the dicisionpoint for the future of all Humanity.
:-)
3.30.2009
Wana bankrupt warmaking???? ACT TODAY (Tues): Congress votes on global warming budget this week!
 | |||||
| Dear Start, | March 30, 2009 | ||||
| |||||
StartL here: Status Report
Hi. I'd like to offer you an update on what's up with Start. Here's a stream of consciousness with a touch of organization. :-)
* The last month, sans laptop, has been tough, in large part due to the devastating systems-shock of being sans-laptop at precisely a time when I needed to be away from a desktop computer due to the daily commitment at Peace Park I've assumed ( prop1.org ). For me this is like having my hands amputated, or being placed in solitary confinement precisely at the time my loved ones needed my full presence and attention. It has also been a devastating, healthy shock to face the truth of how little my work is valued by others, that there was virtually no concern that my work was devastated by the absence of a laptop. But, without exception in my life the following is True: "If it does not kill you, you grow." I regret nothing in my life that at the time I experienced as a mortal body-blow. Without these devastating blows, the things that within myself I find hopeful for the world, would not exist.
* Late last week, an Angel has ordered a laptop for my use!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even though this has not yet arrived - next week, this has been an enormous shot in the arm for me; like receiving a transfusion - not just the fact of a laptop to be available, but the fact of the kindness, thoughtfulness, caring, support, comradeship... that the offer and execution represents. Like lying in your hospital bed and learning that a surgical team is going to attempt to re-attach your hands, in time for you to return to work on saving your family. Did you ever see the movie "The English Patient?" It is not unlike that movie for me without a laptop.
* For the foreseeable future my #1 priority will be supporting and sustaining the 28 Year Anti-Nuclear Peace Vigil at the White House. If there is such a thing as the Divine, the Sacred (and at least in psychological terms there is, with absolute certainty) this Vigil, and the commitment is embodies on the part of Thomas, Connie, Ellen, Troy and others - is Divine, Sacred. God clearly is calling me to do my part to make certain it endures. With Thomas up fighting for us on a new terrain, it falls to me to join Connie, Troy, Ellen and others to directly and indirectly sustain this unique, Life giving, Hope giving Monument to Peace Building of such importance to millions around the world who are educated, inspired and engaged by its existence.
* I yearn to be back on Capitol Hill at this crucial time. Whether Congress backs the Budget put forth by Pres. Obama, will entirely determine the future of Humanity / America / Planet Earth. The next 30-60 days are entirely crucial - what Congress signs or shirks is monumentally crucial. But I cannot be two places at once - The Hill and White House Vigil.
* Tragically, very few folks have yet subscribed to the new blogs I maintain: http://HomeearthSecurity.blogspot.com and http://AmericasBleedingWars.blogspot.com . Any success in life I've had has been based on a rare ability to cull through mountains of information and "see" the really strategic, crucial information. For my personal role - my Peace Work - I need to do this now. These sites are my personal repository. And I'M FINDING THAT THEY ARE UNIQUELY VALUABLE REPOSITORIES. I cull through the results of about 40 google spiders I've activated every day and post just the deeply strategic articles that are available. I barely have time to study these articles due to my laptop-less time at the White House. But in the moments I can steal to study these sites - THEY ARE A GOLD MINE. And this weekend I've started a 3rd: http://BarackObamaBeyondOMG.blogspot.com .
* Among the few things I deeply, authoritatively understand is Strategic, High Stakes Leadership. I've studied and practiced this my entire adult life. Every day my head spins at the brilliant Leadership Pres. Obama demonstrates. "Greatest leader in the history of the world," I tell people every day. He is. God damn us if we remain on the sidelines while he fights with his life for ours. I refuse to.
* Here at the Peace House Ellen and I, with the vaccuum presented by Thomas' moving on, have undertaken to strengthen the sense of mission, purpose, and meaning among we here. We now have a brief House Book that articulates what we stand for, who belongs here, what behavior DOES NOT BELONG HERE. This is an enormous step forward in terms of building on what already has been done, and as Ellen says, necessarily moving even beyond "the high standards that Thomas set."
* Spring is the highest impact time to be at the White House Vigil - it is then that the middle and high school trips flow through. The Vigil is an enormously powerful pulpit. You can imagine. Yes, probably 80% of the groups are carefully steered entirely away from the vigil by their Censors (teachers). But another 20% escape this fate - some carefully steered exactly TO the vigil by their teachers. It is an extraordinary and sacred opportunity to be able to have 3-15 minutes to deliver into these open, pliable, receptive souls. Sacred. 15 years ago I'd have had little to offer. 35 years I'd have had much to offer, and finally, today I have much to offer again - Humanity, the Truth of Humanity. Is it making a difference? None of us can ESCAPE making a difference; direction and degree are the only variables for any of us and any and every moment of our lives. For Start Loving, in this day, at this time, this is an enormous, a Sacred Channel for what I have to offer, to deliver. In the minutes I have with each group I deliver along the following lines: we work here, for 28 years now, to get nuclear weapons off of your planet; we also work here to confront the other threats to you, my brothers and sisters - the brutalization of Palestine, the theft of oil from the Middle East; AND MOST IMPORTANTLY - the 400 BILLION TON METEOR HURTLING TOWARD EARTH - THE CO2 WE'VE PUT UP THERE, that will destroy civilization if we don't stop it; that it is always the youth that have led humanity out of the darkness, that they can succeed, and that if they do not succeed Hell will reign on their planet; that what we at the vigil do is a different kind of soldiering - the only kind that ever has or ever will advance the Human agenda items like - women having the right to vote, ending child labor, ending slavery, ending the Vietnam war.... Clearly some of those in each "audience" are profoundly touched by our brief interchanges. Worth my life? Duh. Oh, yes, sometimes our conversation goes to Jesus, prompted by the Crosses on my head, and I share, and frequently they eagerly identify with: the Man Jesus is who I care about, my #1 hero, Gandhi's too, our Einstein of how to be actualized Humans, how to escape Hell-on-earth. So often, they "get it." This is pretty Sacred. This is profoundly Sacred.
* When there are not receptive "audineces" at the Vigil, via radio (NPR news, CSPAN) and MP3 (Thomas') I study DemocracyNow, books on Climate Change, Anti-Nuclear and key articles I haven't time to read otherwise. There is not a second to waste.
* My sift at the signs is 5:15-10:15pm. All waking seconds that I am not there I am on a desktop computer at the Peace House (thinks to Ellen and our House benefactor) researching Global Warming, US War Making or republishing segments of DemocracyNow! pertaining to either of these subjects. Additionally, on the rare occasion when there is an important citizen action in DC (Power Shift for example) I video that with equipment Ellen has provided me) and get that up on YouTube for the purpose of encouraging the participants and educating others as to what is possible.
* My other pulpit of some considerable power is http://youtube.com/StartLoving1 where I now have over 330 "Subscribers" and where I publish a dozen or so new videos every day; and where there is some level of daily dialog with folks from around the world regarding what is posted there.
Hmmmm. Well, I've forgotten some things, but this will have to do for now.
* The last month, sans laptop, has been tough, in large part due to the devastating systems-shock of being sans-laptop at precisely a time when I needed to be away from a desktop computer due to the daily commitment at Peace Park I've assumed ( prop1.org ). For me this is like having my hands amputated, or being placed in solitary confinement precisely at the time my loved ones needed my full presence and attention. It has also been a devastating, healthy shock to face the truth of how little my work is valued by others, that there was virtually no concern that my work was devastated by the absence of a laptop. But, without exception in my life the following is True: "If it does not kill you, you grow." I regret nothing in my life that at the time I experienced as a mortal body-blow. Without these devastating blows, the things that within myself I find hopeful for the world, would not exist.
* Late last week, an Angel has ordered a laptop for my use!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even though this has not yet arrived - next week, this has been an enormous shot in the arm for me; like receiving a transfusion - not just the fact of a laptop to be available, but the fact of the kindness, thoughtfulness, caring, support, comradeship... that the offer and execution represents. Like lying in your hospital bed and learning that a surgical team is going to attempt to re-attach your hands, in time for you to return to work on saving your family. Did you ever see the movie "The English Patient?" It is not unlike that movie for me without a laptop.
* For the foreseeable future my #1 priority will be supporting and sustaining the 28 Year Anti-Nuclear Peace Vigil at the White House. If there is such a thing as the Divine, the Sacred (and at least in psychological terms there is, with absolute certainty) this Vigil, and the commitment is embodies on the part of Thomas, Connie, Ellen, Troy and others - is Divine, Sacred. God clearly is calling me to do my part to make certain it endures. With Thomas up fighting for us on a new terrain, it falls to me to join Connie, Troy, Ellen and others to directly and indirectly sustain this unique, Life giving, Hope giving Monument to Peace Building of such importance to millions around the world who are educated, inspired and engaged by its existence.
* I yearn to be back on Capitol Hill at this crucial time. Whether Congress backs the Budget put forth by Pres. Obama, will entirely determine the future of Humanity / America / Planet Earth. The next 30-60 days are entirely crucial - what Congress signs or shirks is monumentally crucial. But I cannot be two places at once - The Hill and White House Vigil.
* Tragically, very few folks have yet subscribed to the new blogs I maintain: http://HomeearthSecurity.blogspot.com and http://AmericasBleedingWars.blogspot.com . Any success in life I've had has been based on a rare ability to cull through mountains of information and "see" the really strategic, crucial information. For my personal role - my Peace Work - I need to do this now. These sites are my personal repository. And I'M FINDING THAT THEY ARE UNIQUELY VALUABLE REPOSITORIES. I cull through the results of about 40 google spiders I've activated every day and post just the deeply strategic articles that are available. I barely have time to study these articles due to my laptop-less time at the White House. But in the moments I can steal to study these sites - THEY ARE A GOLD MINE. And this weekend I've started a 3rd: http://BarackObamaBeyondOMG.blogspot.com .
* Among the few things I deeply, authoritatively understand is Strategic, High Stakes Leadership. I've studied and practiced this my entire adult life. Every day my head spins at the brilliant Leadership Pres. Obama demonstrates. "Greatest leader in the history of the world," I tell people every day. He is. God damn us if we remain on the sidelines while he fights with his life for ours. I refuse to.
* Here at the Peace House Ellen and I, with the vaccuum presented by Thomas' moving on, have undertaken to strengthen the sense of mission, purpose, and meaning among we here. We now have a brief House Book that articulates what we stand for, who belongs here, what behavior DOES NOT BELONG HERE. This is an enormous step forward in terms of building on what already has been done, and as Ellen says, necessarily moving even beyond "the high standards that Thomas set."
* Spring is the highest impact time to be at the White House Vigil - it is then that the middle and high school trips flow through. The Vigil is an enormously powerful pulpit. You can imagine. Yes, probably 80% of the groups are carefully steered entirely away from the vigil by their Censors (teachers). But another 20% escape this fate - some carefully steered exactly TO the vigil by their teachers. It is an extraordinary and sacred opportunity to be able to have 3-15 minutes to deliver into these open, pliable, receptive souls. Sacred. 15 years ago I'd have had little to offer. 35 years I'd have had much to offer, and finally, today I have much to offer again - Humanity, the Truth of Humanity. Is it making a difference? None of us can ESCAPE making a difference; direction and degree are the only variables for any of us and any and every moment of our lives. For Start Loving, in this day, at this time, this is an enormous, a Sacred Channel for what I have to offer, to deliver. In the minutes I have with each group I deliver along the following lines: we work here, for 28 years now, to get nuclear weapons off of your planet; we also work here to confront the other threats to you, my brothers and sisters - the brutalization of Palestine, the theft of oil from the Middle East; AND MOST IMPORTANTLY - the 400 BILLION TON METEOR HURTLING TOWARD EARTH - THE CO2 WE'VE PUT UP THERE, that will destroy civilization if we don't stop it; that it is always the youth that have led humanity out of the darkness, that they can succeed, and that if they do not succeed Hell will reign on their planet; that what we at the vigil do is a different kind of soldiering - the only kind that ever has or ever will advance the Human agenda items like - women having the right to vote, ending child labor, ending slavery, ending the Vietnam war.... Clearly some of those in each "audience" are profoundly touched by our brief interchanges. Worth my life? Duh. Oh, yes, sometimes our conversation goes to Jesus, prompted by the Crosses on my head, and I share, and frequently they eagerly identify with: the Man Jesus is who I care about, my #1 hero, Gandhi's too, our Einstein of how to be actualized Humans, how to escape Hell-on-earth. So often, they "get it." This is pretty Sacred. This is profoundly Sacred.
* When there are not receptive "audineces" at the Vigil, via radio (NPR news, CSPAN) and MP3 (Thomas') I study DemocracyNow, books on Climate Change, Anti-Nuclear and key articles I haven't time to read otherwise. There is not a second to waste.
* My sift at the signs is 5:15-10:15pm. All waking seconds that I am not there I am on a desktop computer at the Peace House (thinks to Ellen and our House benefactor) researching Global Warming, US War Making or republishing segments of DemocracyNow! pertaining to either of these subjects. Additionally, on the rare occasion when there is an important citizen action in DC (Power Shift for example) I video that with equipment Ellen has provided me) and get that up on YouTube for the purpose of encouraging the participants and educating others as to what is possible.
* My other pulpit of some considerable power is http://youtube.com/StartLoving1 where I now have over 330 "Subscribers" and where I publish a dozen or so new videos every day; and where there is some level of daily dialog with folks from around the world regarding what is posted there.
Hmmmm. Well, I've forgotten some things, but this will have to do for now.
3.29.2009
Near-perfect Joy-finder. Gandhi's Talisman.
"I will give you a talisman. [At random moments throughout your day,] apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her]. Will he [she] gain anything by it? Will it restore him [her] to a control over his [her] own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions?
Then you will find your [time-wasting, Life-wasting] melt away
[and Meaning / Life / Joy flood in]."
- One of the last notes left behind by Gandhi in 1948, expressing his deepest social thought.
3.28.2009
We LOVE lIFE, and we don't Love Life in the slightest.
If we Loved Life, the Life of people, the Life of those Suffering, the way we Love Money - the world would be Heaven. It SOON will be Hell, for real, cuz we don't. Unless....
3.27.2009
Will ever I "get it?" - the "son" that says "no" but does our Father's (Love's) will? Seems not. God / Love is of the Least EXPECTED.
I've been ill with the flu. From two least expected vehicles God delivered medicine and kindness. TWO LEAST EXPECTED VEHICLES / people. Most of us most of the time are the son, real pleasant, very agreeable, nice to be around... that says "sure dad!" but does NOT do our Father's / Love's will. Good intentions. One in a million of us is the son, (more often than not?!?!?!) the surly, unpleasant, disagreeabe son that says "NO! I will not!" and then DOES our Father's / Love's will.
Laptop: From a least expected vehicle - wham - your work is important Start, I want to get you a laptop so your work can continue. LEAST EXPECTED person for many reasons. I have so much to learn; and I'm oh, so slow.
Laptop: From a least expected vehicle - wham - your work is important Start, I want to get you a laptop so your work can continue. LEAST EXPECTED person for many reasons. I have so much to learn; and I'm oh, so slow.
3.24.2009
I Love President Barack Obama, and MLK, Gandhi and Jesus
In all seriousness, frequently I've told the Secret Service that if they need someone to take a bullet for Pres. Obama I'd be happy to. This is a man, a family, on a mission to save the world. My life is dedicated to our success, and therefore to the success of his mission.
I pity those that don't get this, and get on board. What a waste of Life. Our last, best hope. This is the time for EYES-WIDE-OPEN-FAITH.
I pity those that don't get this, and get on board. What a waste of Life. Our last, best hope. This is the time for EYES-WIDE-OPEN-FAITH.
3.23.2009
The folks God uses, hmmm, they tend to be crazy, broken, nuts, failed....
I'm totally serious, mystified... but this is how it is. The folks in whom I see God tend to be really, really, really, really broken. Oh, I sure do NOT mean the excused-bad-behavior that the Church dispenses crap. But as often as not, the folks in whom I see occasional blinding flashes of God / Universal Love are the dregs of the earth. I cannot lie, and I never would have guessed it, or forecast this. Quite astonishing. Bestcase, they are all on the periphery of society. Often they are out-right crazy.
LIFE exists only in the face of emergency. Everything else is simply "existance."
NEVER WILL I COMMUNICATE ANYTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN THIS:
EVERYTHING I've learned in all fields of human knowledge distills to this. That which all the Wise know as human Life, that extreme heightened state of Spirit, is only achieved, sustained and maintained in the face of human emergency. There is no other neurological alternative for that state of Life / Heaven / Joy / Peace / Universal Love. I testify personally to this, and to the entire practicality and desirability of Living in the face of emergency EVERY waking second of one's adult life.
IF YOU KNOW HOW TO DISCERN WELL THE TRUTH WITHIN YOURSELF, you will be able to discern the truth of what I say. This is not the subject of some abstraction. This is the subject of our DNA determined range of experiential opportunities.
"As you do unto the LEAST (NOT lesser) of these...."
EVERYTHING I've learned in all fields of human knowledge distills to this. That which all the Wise know as human Life, that extreme heightened state of Spirit, is only achieved, sustained and maintained in the face of human emergency. There is no other neurological alternative for that state of Life / Heaven / Joy / Peace / Universal Love. I testify personally to this, and to the entire practicality and desirability of Living in the face of emergency EVERY waking second of one's adult life.
IF YOU KNOW HOW TO DISCERN WELL THE TRUTH WITHIN YOURSELF, you will be able to discern the truth of what I say. This is not the subject of some abstraction. This is the subject of our DNA determined range of experiential opportunities.
"As you do unto the LEAST (NOT lesser) of these...."
3.18.2009
God is dead
Rabbi Heschel lays it out so clearly: peaceandnonviolence.blogspot.com/2007/03/meaning-of-this-hour-abraham-j-heschel.html
This is a Godless city in a Godless country, in a Godless world. A cancer ridden corpse with just the faintest flicker of life left. As part of that body, still with Life, it is frustrating to find so totally little to work with in attempting to revive the body. I guess that is how it goes.
This is a Godless city in a Godless country, in a Godless world. A cancer ridden corpse with just the faintest flicker of life left. As part of that body, still with Life, it is frustrating to find so totally little to work with in attempting to revive the body. I guess that is how it goes.
3.14.2009
If a tree falls in the woods.... If global warming drowns a billion... If hunger starves 24,000/day...
And YOU are not there to hear or see it, does it ... make a sound.... do they really drown.... do they really suffer....?
"If a tree falls in the woods, and there is no one there to hear it, does it make a sound?"
"If a tree falls in the woods, and there is no one there to hear it, does it make a sound?"
3.13.2009
When is Poverty Wealth? Hunger Fullness? Vulnerability Safety? Failure Success?
When? When you are BEING Universal Love.
Oh, what a tragedy that most will understand this as mystical, some trick of words, something obscure, religious, a "belief system." It is no more any of these than is the Truth that sand is unpleasant to chew.
It is so concrete, ordinary for most of us (but on a tragically rare basis), real, obvious (the fish are the last to discover water).... How so? Think of when YOU WERE Universal Love. This is how it WAS for you at those times:
Oh, what a tragedy that most will understand this as mystical, some trick of words, something obscure, religious, a "belief system." It is no more any of these than is the Truth that sand is unpleasant to chew.
It is so concrete, ordinary for most of us (but on a tragically rare basis), real, obvious (the fish are the last to discover water).... How so? Think of when YOU WERE Universal Love. This is how it WAS for you at those times:
- Poverty was Wealth
- Hunger was Fullness
- Vulnerability was Safety
- Failure was Success
- Poverty: I was devoid of all resources. Wealth was EVERY MOMENT my experience, without qualification. Wealth of Meaning - the Wealth that surpasses all other wealth; the wealth that entirely obscures desire for on interest in ANY other form of wealth (all if which is by the design of our nervous system, inferior).
- Hunger: Hmmmm, yup, the hunger signals are shouted by the body on Hunger Strike. Fullness, NOT HUNGER, was what filled my consciousness, virtually, practically ALL THE TIME. At MOST there were fleeting seconds when there was a competition between the Pangs and the Fullness of Consciousness/Spirit.
- Vulnerability: 2am, tarp over my head, strange noises I can't see or identify, some crazy about to bash a brick into my skull and run? Safety, and nothing else was what I ever felt. Safety, Complete and Utter Safety, knowing that I was doing at that moment what Humanity, and even what the potential "crazy" needed me to be doing at that moment.
- Failure: 38 days of work, "suffering," "sacrifice," and what to show for it? NOTHING. Total Success was and is my feeling about it, completely, every moment. I did everything I could. There IS no feeling of Success that can surpass knowing you did EVERYTHING you could regarding something of Ultimate Importance. And, EVERY OTHER FORM OF "SUCCESS" FALLS EMBARRASSINGLY SHORT OF THIS.
Jesus' Sense of Urgency - The Work is like Planting Seeds on a Battle Field
So much of what Jesus taught has such an urgency to it - the Virgins that should remain awake; the Servants that should remain awake; the rich man who's life was taken that night; THE SON OF MAN HAS NOWHERE TO REST HIS HEAD....
My understanding of what Jesus was telling us just made a monumental leap. Of course I've known, really my whole life, that Jesus was NOT telling us about some Heaven AFTER we die. That's rubbish. No! Jesus died to show us Heaven in THIS life. Of course.
So these parables with such sense of urgency were NOT about winning an afterlife ticket. So what ARE they about?
Jesus was telling us a central feature of our work; that is, our opportunity for Life! The field in which we sew Universal Love is a constantly shifting battle field on which the battle is raging. Period. Always. IT IS NEVER NOT A BATTLE FIELD WITH WAR RAGING AROUND US. When the bullets are being fired on the right, we dash and sew on the left; when the firing is on the left, we dash and sew on the right, and so on.
Now that I stay on or close to the Path, life is SO LIKE THIS! Where I am welcome one second, the door slams the next. When a heart is open to receive one second, it is slammed shut the next. When meager resources, funds, equipment, whatever are available one second they are obliterated the next. Until the Kingdom reigns, this is how it is for those who's religion is Universal Love.
This is important and helpful for me to know. Otherwise I would have the tendency to blame myself for such extreme instability. No. It is the nature of the battle of Life we have the Privilege and Joy to pursue.
Our opportunity, our ONLY Opportunity is to embrace our role as Medics on the Raging Battlefield of Life. The alternative, embraced by almost all is the Purgatory/Hell of the drone, the zombie, the degenerate.
My understanding of what Jesus was telling us just made a monumental leap. Of course I've known, really my whole life, that Jesus was NOT telling us about some Heaven AFTER we die. That's rubbish. No! Jesus died to show us Heaven in THIS life. Of course.
So these parables with such sense of urgency were NOT about winning an afterlife ticket. So what ARE they about?
Jesus was telling us a central feature of our work; that is, our opportunity for Life! The field in which we sew Universal Love is a constantly shifting battle field on which the battle is raging. Period. Always. IT IS NEVER NOT A BATTLE FIELD WITH WAR RAGING AROUND US. When the bullets are being fired on the right, we dash and sew on the left; when the firing is on the left, we dash and sew on the right, and so on.
Now that I stay on or close to the Path, life is SO LIKE THIS! Where I am welcome one second, the door slams the next. When a heart is open to receive one second, it is slammed shut the next. When meager resources, funds, equipment, whatever are available one second they are obliterated the next. Until the Kingdom reigns, this is how it is for those who's religion is Universal Love.
This is important and helpful for me to know. Otherwise I would have the tendency to blame myself for such extreme instability. No. It is the nature of the battle of Life we have the Privilege and Joy to pursue.
Our opportunity, our ONLY Opportunity is to embrace our role as Medics on the Raging Battlefield of Life. The alternative, embraced by almost all is the Purgatory/Hell of the drone, the zombie, the degenerate.
3.11.2009
StartL has no social, casual or "personal" relationships, and this will not change. A few treasured working relationships, yes.
Hey, it is not my intention to hurt you, or anyone, EVER.
I don't have personal relationships. Any. I don't have social relationships or interactions, any. I don't have casual relationships or interactions, any. I don't ask these of anyone and I don't offer these to anyone.
I do have a few, warm working relationships with select, relatively focused and intense Peace Workers. Why? Strictly because it helps advance the missions I devote my life to, and or theirs.
My entire life, and my entire time is focused on Peace Work, the most strategically important and hopeful I can connect with at any moment in time. I don't ask anyone to personally chat with me, and I never offer it myself.
I live on a bloody, battlefield with dead and dying children all around, in the middle of an ongoing attack on the survivors. I am always there. I am NEVER not there, regardless of how it might appear to others, and whether they see the battlefield and ongoing slaughter.
I write this in an attempt to minimize whatever pain my non response to "what are you watching," last night.
I don't need you to understand, but I've offered this in an attempt to help you understand if you want, and maybe be less hurt by my response.
I'm strictly business; I'm only business, I'm never not business.
I don't ask anyone to like that or me, and the vast majority in all camps do not. But that is how it is with me and how it will stay.
Your brother forever, no matter what,
Start
I don't have personal relationships. Any. I don't have social relationships or interactions, any. I don't have casual relationships or interactions, any. I don't ask these of anyone and I don't offer these to anyone.
I do have a few, warm working relationships with select, relatively focused and intense Peace Workers. Why? Strictly because it helps advance the missions I devote my life to, and or theirs.
My entire life, and my entire time is focused on Peace Work, the most strategically important and hopeful I can connect with at any moment in time. I don't ask anyone to personally chat with me, and I never offer it myself.
I live on a bloody, battlefield with dead and dying children all around, in the middle of an ongoing attack on the survivors. I am always there. I am NEVER not there, regardless of how it might appear to others, and whether they see the battlefield and ongoing slaughter.
I write this in an attempt to minimize whatever pain my non response to "what are you watching," last night.
I don't need you to understand, but I've offered this in an attempt to help you understand if you want, and maybe be less hurt by my response.
I'm strictly business; I'm only business, I'm never not business.
I don't ask anyone to like that or me, and the vast majority in all camps do not. But that is how it is with me and how it will stay.
Your brother forever, no matter what,
Start
3.10.2009
Great highlights of our brilliant sages Stewart, Colbert, Maddow and occasionally SNL. ESSENTIAL daily education: DON'T MISS - EVERY DAY
http://www.buzzflash.com/ VIDEOS. Great highlights of our brilliant sages Stewart, Colbert, Maddow and occasionally SNL
SNL Michael Steele parody
Daily Show -- In Cramer We Trust
SNL Michael Steele parody
Daily Show -- In Cramer We Trust
Fw: StartL is nothing but a failure. And it's Heaven.
Beloved Sister,
Just to share with you, there are, and for years now in my life, there has been nothing really but a long string of "failures" in my life. At least, truly, that is how any but the most "enlightened" observers would have to view my life. You are lucky, in a way, to get the occasional "tail wagging," or friendly "deer in the yard" encouragements and rewards. But with me God has pretty well chosen to just keep on stripping me of resources, support, safety, security, RESULTS....
And Sister, I'm perfectly fine with that, to my surprise and amazement. And, I don't think it was (or IS) much different for Jesus! I know I am doing what She/He/It wants me to do. And that is my reward. And it is better than anything, all the riches and pleasures I was born to and gorged on most of my life. It IS Life, and the other was trash.
Now mind you, God connecting me with you and a very few others is an incredible Blessing and Joy. But the 99.999% of my life that is NOT spent with you is.... Heaven (AND Hell).
It is that being filled with God / Universal Love - well it is like swimming in it, Yes? This is Heaven, if we are careful to find it, and Enter In.
Love you.
Just to share with you, there are, and for years now in my life, there has been nothing really but a long string of "failures" in my life. At least, truly, that is how any but the most "enlightened" observers would have to view my life. You are lucky, in a way, to get the occasional "tail wagging," or friendly "deer in the yard" encouragements and rewards. But with me God has pretty well chosen to just keep on stripping me of resources, support, safety, security, RESULTS....
And Sister, I'm perfectly fine with that, to my surprise and amazement. And, I don't think it was (or IS) much different for Jesus! I know I am doing what She/He/It wants me to do. And that is my reward. And it is better than anything, all the riches and pleasures I was born to and gorged on most of my life. It IS Life, and the other was trash.
Now mind you, God connecting me with you and a very few others is an incredible Blessing and Joy. But the 99.999% of my life that is NOT spent with you is.... Heaven (AND Hell).
It is that being filled with God / Universal Love - well it is like swimming in it, Yes? This is Heaven, if we are careful to find it, and Enter In.
Love you.
"President Obama better watch his back." [Cuz WE'RE not going to, right!?]
http://www.examiner.com/x-2383-Honolulu-Exopolitics-Examiner~y2009m3d9-Obama-takes-on-the-black-budget
The Memorandum signals Obama's determination to cut down on wasteful government practices. In following through on his determination, President Obama better watch his back. He is challenging the most powerful vested interests in the U.S. – those behind black budget funding of highly classified projects that totally escape legislative oversight and media scrutiny.
The Memorandum signals Obama's determination to cut down on wasteful government practices. In following through on his determination, President Obama better watch his back. He is challenging the most powerful vested interests in the U.S. – those behind black budget funding of highly classified projects that totally escape legislative oversight and media scrutiny.
If you value this "Subscription" suggest it to others. We've very little time left.
If you value this "Subscription" suggest it to others. We've very little time left.
3.09.2009
HERO: Undercover Animal Rights Investigator
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1883742,00.html
What's the worst thing you've ever seen in your career?
On an egg farm, it's very, very normal to see live hens thrown in the trash. If you spin them around to break their necks like they tell you to, that doesn't always cause cervical dislocation. So you just kind of throw them away live in the trash. You'll always come across birds that are barely breathing, missing all their feathers, all bloody in the trash. You never get completely desensitized to that.
Have you ever walked away from an assignment because it's just too hard to be there?
Never.
SF CHRONICLE: Obama taking big political risk with budget [A CRUCIFIXION ! Oh boy!] Yes, I'm goading us.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/07/MNEE16AJT5.DTL [DAMN US IF WE JUST WATCH]
Amid a cratering stock market, huge job losses and continuing ad hoc bank interventions, President Obama is risking his presidency on the most ambitious remake of the federal government since Ronald Reagan, raising jitters among moderate Democrats and presenting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with the most daunting challenge of her career.For liberals who fretted just a month ago that Obama was acting suspiciously centrist, his $3.6 trillion budget is a call to arms. It is also a carefully woven matrix that tackles everything from global warming to health care with new spending and taxes.Pull out one piece, be it a quasi-tax on carbon or an end to charitable and mortgage interest deductions by the wealthy, and either the programs unravel or $1 trillion-plus deficits rocket higher.
Amid a cratering stock market, huge job losses and continuing ad hoc bank interventions, President Obama is risking his presidency on the most ambitious remake of the federal government since Ronald Reagan, raising jitters among moderate Democrats and presenting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with the most daunting challenge of her career.For liberals who fretted just a month ago that Obama was acting suspiciously centrist, his $3.6 trillion budget is a call to arms. It is also a carefully woven matrix that tackles everything from global warming to health care with new spending and taxes.Pull out one piece, be it a quasi-tax on carbon or an end to charitable and mortgage interest deductions by the wealthy, and either the programs unravel or $1 trillion-plus deficits rocket higher.
3.08.2009
Rush L. Hopes for Ted Kenedy's Death. DEMAND AN APOLOGY
http://www.americansunitedforchange.org/page/s/kennedy
Yesterday Republican Party leader Rush Limbaugh made an incredibly tasteless remark about Senator Ted Kennedy -- saying that the senator will be dead before health care reform happens. Both Republicans and Democrats in Congress love Senator Kennedy. He's one of the most respected leaders in Washington for his ability to cross the aisle and help working families. We can't let the Republican Party stay silent about Rush's wildly offensive remark.
Yesterday Republican Party leader Rush Limbaugh made an incredibly tasteless remark about Senator Ted Kennedy -- saying that the senator will be dead before health care reform happens. Both Republicans and Democrats in Congress love Senator Kennedy. He's one of the most respected leaders in Washington for his ability to cross the aisle and help working families. We can't let the Republican Party stay silent about Rush's wildly offensive remark.
"This guy's the real deal." Pres. Obama's speech writer.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-favreau-speechwritermar08,0,5016893.story
Disappointed and exhausted after Kerry's loss, Favreau was thinking about going to law school or trying his hand at screenwriting, said several associates. "I remember him calling me after the lunch," Porter said. "He said, 'I'm staying here. This guy's the real deal.' "
Disappointed and exhausted after Kerry's loss, Favreau was thinking about going to law school or trying his hand at screenwriting, said several associates. "I remember him calling me after the lunch," Porter said. "He said, 'I'm staying here. This guy's the real deal.' "
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