My Sunday Thought for 11132016: Female Priests? Never Say Never, Your Holiness.

Early imagery of Mary wearing Bishop's pallium.

My Sunday Thought, for this week, is in response to an article from the monastery published in November, 2016.  The piece is entitled, Female Priests? Never, Says Pope Francis.

According to the article, Pope John Paul II once wrote that "the exclusion of women from the priesthood is in accordance with God's plan for His Church." And with this, the control of Church and congregation remain firmly in the grip of man. The Apostle Paul is attributed with writing half the books of the New Testament, and would also seem to be, at the very least, a sexist, bigoted, homophobic; all of the same lofty attributes we endow Christ with, right? Well, perhaps not.  Again, according to the article, Pope Francis said this of the comment by Pope John Paul II concerning women in the priesthood, "If we read carefully the declaration made by St. John Paul II, it goes in that direction."

Pope John Paul II must be referring to the 11th Commandment, "Mothers of the future are not allowed to minister."  I must have missed that errata sheet for the Old Testament.  Does this reek of, "Only selfish, sexist, egotistical, power hungry, self-indulgent men who don't like women, need apply," or is it just me?

My response to Pope Francis, after reading this post, was the following comment:

"Perhaps it would be wise to leave that door opened a crack, your Holiness. Being definitive in the negative seems to always bite us in the derriere. Better to say, “Maybe… someday, but I wouldn’t hold your breath.”

Like the Holy Bible, my favorite pope, the Bishop of Rome and the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church, his Holiness Pope Francis, appears to be a contradiction. He would seem to be at odds with his view that the Catholic Church should move forward into this new century by embracing 21st Century values, yet even the Holy See appears to be blind to inevitable changes as Christianity as a whole tries to lure this new century's open minded blood into the fold.

What all Christians need to wrap our minds around is what we are never taught about the history of our own scripture.  What we first need to understand is that we really don't know who wrote the Bible, if it was written by a handful of men or sixty.  We don't know if it was written within a couple of hundred years of Christ's death or over the course of 1500 years.  What we seem fairly certain of is that many of the stories were embellished, whether for clarity or other reasons.  We also know that many books were left out when the final collection was chosen for inclusion.  We can also be fairly certain it is a collection of stories handed down by men, not women, "word of mouth" until necessity required a document be written.  What we have come to understand about "word of mouth" is how the spirit of the story might remain, but the accuracy may be questionable.  I'm reminded that all through my Catholic upbringing I thought Christ was a lily white, long haired, Caucasian hippy, and not some Middle East prophet tanned to a crisp brown under the desert sun.  Caucasian, or more probably Italian, is how he was depicted in paintings and on the crucified on the cross above countless altars.  In all of this contradiction the Church simply requires we have faith.

So in a period of mankind's history when men were the ruling class and the religious leaders, we are to accept that their agenda would allow for kinder, gentler, tales imbuing women with equality to men?  We are to accept there was no agenda to ensure control of the faithful would be the sole purview of man?  Yeah, right.  Let's take that on faith.  I think not.

I found an interesting article that gives one pause, So You Reject the Apostle Paul, but Accept Jesus?  In it, the author touches upon what I see as possible collusion between the Apostles:

By rejecting Paul’s writings, one would have to reconsider the Gospel of Luke since Luke was with Paul, agreed with Paul, and their agreement is clear in how Paul quoted Luke as Scripture (1 Tim 5:18; cf. Luke 10:7). Setting aside Luke also means setting aside Luke’s book of Acts and the previously written gospel narratives mentioned in Luke 1:1–3. This leaves only two books, James and Jude, from the Christian Scriptures. However, Jude closely resembles 2 Peter 2 even speaking of fulfillment of Peter’s revelation, so that one cannot reasonably accept Jude. James was also an Apostle with Peter, associated with the Twelve, and accepted Paul (Acts 15; Gal 1:18–2:10), so James’ writing would also be dismissed.

-- Seeing God's Breath

It would seem, by this, we can assume that the Apostles were left to the mercy of their own selfish male frailties after the savior's death, and the frailties of man are many, even among the faithful.  If we accept the possibility of personal or societal agendas poisoning biblical content, what then are we to believe?  Where does this truly leave our faith?  More to the point, where does it leave any judgement we levy against women or homosexuals?  And, why are we passing judgement in the first place, when it states, very clearly, in this very same Bible, this "Word of God," that we are not to judge? 

If women were not to hold positions of ministry, why is Mary depicted so frequently wearing the bishop's pallium?  The pallium is an article of the bishop's raiment seen in the etching, above, as the white ribbon of cloth, hanging down the front and back of Mary's outfit, with a small cross at the bottom.  This pallium symbolized the highest priestly ministry, and could only be worn by the pope, or by a bishop given the privilege from the pope, and only then when the bishop was exercising functions of solemn liturgies.  So, why then is Mary shown wearing it so often?

It is difficult enough to have faith in a religion whose scripture is rife with so many written contradictions due to the patchwork nature of how it was assembled, a hurried inattention to details, the incompetence of scribes taking down the stories from illiterate story tellers, etc.  To complement these written contradictions we also have to struggle with well-meaning artistic contradictions, as well.  I mean, really, I've seen the old, historic photos of women in the middle east of the 19th century.  They might have been considered beautiful by Bedouin standards but, woof! And I really hesitate to say I'm being kind in my opinion.  

Yet, we always depict women from biblical stories as beautiful women.  We should not be surprised by this, and it is one reason I minister that folks should use a critical eye on history when reading anything historic, or considering anything artistic, depicting the times which is created more than a generation or two after the actual events.  we must keep active, open minds to understanding who was in charge, what were the politics of the day, and anything else that might drive a personal, psychological, or societal agenda which might color recorded history with lies, half-truths, or with parables which may not have occurred at all but are used for clarification of a particular philosophical or moral edict.

Where Mary is concerned, she is known to have been the favored of Christ, and this was something of a point of contention with his male Apostles.  How possible, or probable, is it that after His death these same slighted Apostles might have shunned Mary and intentionally diminished her relevance in the life of Christ?  The Gospel of Mary was not included in the Bible, and the only references to it seem to come from the Dead Sea Scrolls as translated in the Nag Hammadi Library, the "Gnostic Gospels."  If you want a real eye opener to differences in thought, try wrapping your mind around the Gospels of Mary and Thomas.

We have entered the 21st century with the fervent hope of finally considering an end to discrimination, bigotry, and inequality.  Christianity, though growing, comes under constant fire for an inability to change those customs which have little to do with faith and more to do with a control of people's minds which wasn't even morally proper back in the day, much less in today's society.  

I think the so-called Church of Christ, the Christian Church, should reflect on what Christ would do, and be less concerned with controlling the minds of their congregation which should not even be attending a church to pray, much less be giving money to it.  Perhaps Christian would be better off understanding the scripture they have so much faith in, and less time listening to the clergy telling them what to do for salvation.  Only you can earn your salvation, and only you can pray to God, and only you can ask and receive God's grace and forgiveness.  Clergy can show you a path, it is up to you to determine if it is God's will. You cannot blame clergy when you discover, in the presence of God, they were leading you astray, intentionally or not.  You will have only yourself to blame for choosing poorly. 

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

-- Matthew 6:2-8

Women are proving themselves more than capable of taking on the world of men.  As women, I would think their genetic capacity for love, compassion, tolerance, and forgiveness would make them far better ministers than most men would ever hope to be.  As for female priests, history has accepted women in roles of religious and spiritual leadership for thousands of years in cultures throughout the world, yet the Abrahamic religions approach the concept with eyes tightly shut and ear plugs snugly in place...  

…For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.…

-- Matthew 13:15-17

...I'm just saying.

Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider another viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, and instructor. He is founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance and author/editor of the Congregation's official blog site, "The Path," which offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination.

My Sunday Thought for 11062016: Female Punching Bags - Beating up on Women

You promised to love me for better or worse. 

I didn't realize, then, 

You would treat me no better than badly, 

And I would deign to treat you worse.

A timely topic from one of my readers as it pertained to a recent sermon posted on the Monastery website by a fellow minister.  Since my head was already into analysis of his words of wisdom, I was ready to impart a few chosen words of my own for my readers.

Women as punching bags... I can't remember ever addressing this issue as a post of its own.  I think this is, in large part, because I have mentioned it in passing in so many of my posts.  But, isn't this the problem?  We seem to mention this offense in passing, as though it isn't worthy of more attention than a side note to our busy lives.  The only time I find myself addressing the topic is as a side note in my blog or in the course of my ministry as chaplain at the local medical center, especially in the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder group I meet with there each Sunday.

I don't concern myself with the offender; I tend to dwell on the victim.  You see, not being a wife beater, I have no point of reference from which to address it.  Oh, I could cite all the psychobabble concerning it, and that would mean as much to anybody as a celibate priest counselling married couples on marriage or parenting issues.  He hasn't been there; he hasn't done that.  Have I struck a woman?  Yes, and I can excuse it by pleading self-defense, I can excuse it as an abused husband; I can excuse it in so many ways - too young, stress at work, loveless marriage, yadda, yadda, yadda... but it won't make it right.  I was weak and I allowed myself to be used and manipulated.  I was a coward, and I was wrong. 

"I was taught that, only a coward strikes a woman. Now days women are starting to beat on men, so I would have to qualify it by saying, only in self-defense and then only as a last resort. It is always better to take the high road, just turn around and walk away. Leave her standing in the driveway, screaming at your back as you leave. Like the bee, you can sting or fly away, and live to fly another day! Don't give in to violence. This is true for everyone, not just men."

-- Teenage Dating Abuse, "The Path" (posted 08/09/13)

Men are from Mars and we have a hard time coming to grips with the fact that Venusian women can dominate our emotions no matter how hard we try to prevent it.  Many men are able to cope with the occasional intrusion into our inner sanctorum, our private most secret place where we thought we could hide our emotions.  A growing few find themselves threatened by the very thought of such a trespass even though they bring it upon themselves, and even though their unwitting victim is unaware of any suspected offense.  A weak minded coward will seize upon this victim as an outlet for their own sadistic tendencies or as payback for an offense they may have suffered, real or imagined.

A woman might see something in the man she feels is worthy of her emotion, and she is willing to overlook any negatives as minutia to be worked upon after the relationship is solidified.  The man invites the weak willed, unwitting thief into his house under the guise of love, and then is confronted by her desire to have him change in ways he had not anticipated.  This can end one of three ways.  They can reach an amicable agreement, since they understand any good relationship is about give and take.  They can mutually agree to end the relationship, since it was an ill-conceived idea from the onset. Worse, one or the other tries to mentally and physically beat the individuality from their unsuspecting victim, to mold them into what they really wanted; to change them.  They exert a twisted definition of control which demands superiority, and domination over their "loved" one, which can degrade from mental abuse to physical abuse in short order.  Not that I have anything against a little domination, a little friendly game of pain and pleasure, I just think mutual consent, leather, whips, handcuffs and a good bottle of wine should be involved.  Call me silly and old fashioned.

"Women marry men hoping they will change. Men marry women hoping they will not. So each is inevitably disappointed."

-- Albert Einstein

My marriage was destroyed, but not before I beat the knuckles of both hands bloody on the concrete and cinderblock walls of several houses.  Infliction of pain upon me was the only way I could maintain control of my sanity while ineffectively trying to salvage a marriage doomed from the beginning.  As many of my friends put it, the only person who didn't know this marriage was over before it began... was me.  Beating on concrete was my way of not beating on her.  Hindsight being what it is, we would have both been better served to end the mental abuse we were inflicting on each other.  She would be free to find what she really wanted, and I would be free to find someone who actually wanted a stable relationship.  If we'd done this we could have, probably, remained great friends and continued to have a better relationship for each other and the kids.

I have learned that change is not a necessity for either party.  What is required is the honest attempt by both people to realize differences and embrace them wherever possible, dismissing those which you cannot.  Be friends, and then be lovers.  If you can't be friends, then the relationship it is all about other horseshit not conducive to a good, long term, relationship.

Sometimes I wonder if men and women really suit each other. Perhaps they should live next door and just visit now and then.

-- Katharine Hepburn

In my case we were both victims; her because of my anger and frustration, and me because of her to use me and mentally abuse me for twenty-four years.  Yes, I was that dense.  I not only suffered the mental cruelty of it, but I also suffered from the "never say die" syndrome.  I foolishly thought she would, one day, come around.  I suppose this is what women suffer from when they stay with a man that beats them mercilessly while telling everyone how much he really loves her, or that it's just the stress of his job, or some other bullshit they've convinced themselves is the reason for becoming some moron's punching bag.  You convince yourself that he'll change, and he'll convince himself you're really that stupid.  Who do you think is right?  

“The scars from mental cruelty can be as deep and long-lasting as wounds from punches or slaps but are often not as obvious. In fact, even among women who have experienced violence from a partner, half or more report that the man’s emotional abuse is what is causing them the greatest harm.”

-- Lundy Bancroft, author, domestic abuse consultant

I came to realize, over time, that my upbringing was perfectly on point.  Life is all about choices.  Do you stay or do you go, and what are the consequences of the wrong decision.  For the man, the real man, it is all about self-control and remembering, above all else, abusing someone weaker than you accomplishes nothing save proving how small a person you really are.  If someone weaker and smaller than you is causing you frustration or anger, leave; they obviously don't love you as you would like, so be man enough to get out before one of you does something stupid.  Hey, everyone makes mistakes in love, be a man and own up to the mistake and accept whatever consequences you have to in order to end the relationship.

Women need to realize that being the punching bag for a moron makes them look like a doormat to all of their friends and family.  Only a masochist would stay in this relationship and actually enjoy it.  You'll know the difference when you look in the mirror and see the spiked dog collar around your neck with the leash attached to it, a tattoo across your breasts saying "Property of George," and the latest red welts from the belt he's laid across your ass while you writhed with pleasure (hopefully there was the aforementioned obligatory outfits of leather and bottle of wine).  If, however, what you see staring back at you is a haggard, tired, miserable and sad reflection of a former self, you are nothing more than a doormat for an abusive moron and it sucks being you.  I'm just saying.

“Doormatitis: door-mat-i-tis noun; low self-worth. A learned behavior where the infected person allows others to walk all over them, blame them, treat them terribly, always giving the boundary crossers the benefit of the doubt. They make excuses for them, They will give in to guilt and intimidation and give the boundary crossers what they want again and again."

-- P.A. Speers, author

A woman has to realize this kind of abuse isn't necessary, much less legal, for her happiness.  As much as she might like to believe it, this is not what being a real man is all about.  She is in a relationship with a coward, the lowest form of humanity, a person who gets off on the pain of another.  If you feel there is no escape, you would be sadly mistaken.  There are numerous organizations willing to assist you in escaping this abuse, but you might start with concerned friends and family.

A male has to realize there is more to being a man than having the applicable genitals and an ability to grunt while scratching them.  Being a real man is a mindset based on a foundation of respect for self, others, and society.  It requires grooming, manners, a sense of morality, and an ethical code to protect those not capable of protecting themselves.  

Real men are seemingly few and far between, yet so set apart from the herd as to be recognizable at a glance.  It is seen in how they carry themselves, how they treat those around them, and the particular respect they show for the gentler sex.  Their title as a "real man" is solidified when they reach for that tissue during the chick flick, or when Bambi's father dies.  They're the man who makes dinner, sets the table, lights the candle, and pours two glasses of wine all for the woman he's been with long enough that she wouldn't expect it, and he does it after working his ass off all day.  This is the sign of a real man.  

The question the woman has to ask herself is, "Why?"  Why she is in a bad relationship, why does she deserve better, or why is she deserving of the candlelight dinner?  Asking herself why can answer what she did that brought her to this point, this consequence of her actions or inactions to circumstances.  These consequences are her positive or negative reinforcements to either continue to make the good choices or to make better choices for better outcomes.  The choice is hers, and she has to be the one to make the decision and take the action.

Before you say there's no good men just make sure you're a good woman. Sometimes you attract the lifestyle you live.

-- Mario Tomasello

Women become punching bags as a matter of choice; the choice to be with him, the choice to stay with him, and the choice to excuse him.  With these choices comes the consequence of accepting that you are a victim, that pain is simply a part of life, and that this life is simply a prelude to a possible death at the hands of the abuser.  She wants him to change.  He wants her to buck up and take it.  Who needs to make a better choice to change their consequences?  I would say, both of them.  The woman for obvious reasons, but the man also needs to be confronted with his offenses and be made to come to a realization that he is not acting like a good man, and he needs help. 

“Objectification is a critical reason why an abuser tends to get worse over time. As his conscience adapts to one level of cruelty—or violence—he builds to the next. By depersonalizing his partner, the abuser protects himself from the natural human emotions of guilt and empathy, so that he can sleep at night with a clear conscience. He distances himself so far from her humanity that her feelings no longer count, or simply cease to exist. These walls tend to grow over time, so that after a few years in a relationship my clients can reach a point where they feel no more guilt over degrading or threatening their partners than you or I would feel after angrily kicking a stone in the driveway.”

-- Lundy Bancroft

Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider another viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, and instructor. He is founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance and author/editor of the Congregation's official blog site, "The Path," which offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination.

Honor Thy Pedophile and Thy Mother?

"Honor your father and your mother,

so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you."

-- Exodus 20:12

Honor your father and your mother.  As a rule of thumb, this sounds pretty reasonable.  As the fifth in God's 10 Commandments, His 10 laws for man to live by, it still seems pretty reasonable.  LifeHopeandTruth.com states, "God gave the 10 Commandments from Mount Sinai, accompanied by smoke, earthquakes and the blast of a trumpet to emphasize the importance of these laws. Moses recorded God’s words in Exodus 20 and recounted the event again in Deuteronomy 5."  

Actually, Moses didn't write any of this.  Scholars ascribe Exodus to the Babylonian exile period which occurred a good 500 years after Moses received the stone tablets from God.  So much for truth but, you can't believe anything you read on the internet - right?  Bon jour! 

Faith demands we believe the 10 Commandments were, in fact, handed down on two stone tablets.  One might assume God, being perfect, used stone so the commandments would last forever.  There was no reason for them not to as they were succinct, and not open to changes or interpretation unless you're a complete idiot, close minded, or a member of clergy, and for the most part I'm not certain there is a difference in these three.  God gave us ten simple commandments and we gave God back a couple of thousand pages worth of scripture trying to explain the simplicity of what God really meant to say, which only proved that mankind is truly dumber than concrete and explained the whole eating the forbidden fruit from the tree issue.

"But one thing honoring does NOT mean is that you have no choice but to tolerate their abuse. Honoring does not mean that you never confront, or set limits on someone's behavior. Honoring does not mean you have to give up all hope of ever being treated nicely, and sacrifice your own health and well-being for an abuser's sadistic enjoyment."

-- Rev. Renee Pittelli

So how does one justify honoring parents, if the parents in question have committed sins against the child which God has commanded to honor them?  This entire post came about after my request for my readers to send me ideas to write about.  The following message arrived from one of my long time readers and very dear friend:

“I'm tolerant and accepting, but I will not forsake my beliefs in order to be tolerant and accepting. For instance, strengthening my faith in a world full of abuses against mankind and, at the rate society is going, will we see the return of Jesus Christ in our lifetime? If so, I'm not ready. 

I do not know how to reconcile Commandment 5, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you." Because of another human's actions and character, I can't reconcile a commandment of God. Do I still have the chance to ascend into heaven? Can I be a person of integrity, honesty, sincerity, loyalty, and still fall short of God's grace? What if, because of the abuses I suffered early in life, my behavior in my 20s has already sealed my fate? Maybe that's why I don't see/feel God's promises in my life today? I already screwed the pooch?

Last week at mass, the church had "voting guides" available to inform the practicing Catholics how to vote in accordance with their [Catholic] doctrine (i.e. abortion, heterosexual marriage, etc.). How do you be tolerant and accepting and still have a strong faith with a conscience? The Monsignor specifically spoke to honoring your parents; you KNOW that can't happen for me. How in the world am I to ever reconcile that one?

I just wonder if God will overlook the fact that I was sacrificed by my mother, to a pedophile and left for my soul to rot (until I got old enough to rescue it, that is), when He considers my afterlife?”

Scripture needs to be interpreted, not the commandments.  What is our definition of parent?  I found a good description in Wikipedia under Parent:  "Parenting or child rearing is the process of promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, social, financial, and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood. Parenting refers to the aspects of raising a child aside from the biological relationship."

So being a father and mother, a parent, goes beyond the "biological relationship."  When it comes to honoring someone for parenting it could apply to whomever the child sees was responsible for "promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, social, financial, and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood."  I think God understood this when handing down the law, worded in the parlance of the day, so it could be understood by the least of us.  Sadly, it might very well be, especially for many children in today's world, no one deserves this honor.

My friend's message to me was full of more than just this question of honor, or misplaced honor. She voices concerns about integrity, honesty, sincerity, loyalty, failure, conscience, salvation, and god's grace.  The message address questions most of us have concerning our personal faith, not to be confused with our religion which is simply a word to describe the cults, the business, controlling leadership, and those separate sects which we think offer us the best shot at attaining the Kingdom of God since we seem incapable of attaining it on our own.  Our faith is what we are left with when all of this other crap is stripped away.  It is what we fall back on when it is all we have left, and it is almost always all we have left.  If we don't have at least that, then we never truly had faith to begin with.  What we all don't seem to grasp is this concept of personal faith.  The only way to God is through the Son, and the only way through the Son is through your own faith!  Not through the faith, belief, and toil of others.  God wants to hear from you, not some clergy representing you; some surrogate you think can absolve you of any breach of protocol.  God needs to hear your faith.

My answer the greater question in my dear friend's message is simple, though she usually accuses me of speaking in riddles.  If you are concerned enough to ask, then you have already reconciled.  If you are questioning your path, then you are already on your journey.  If you truly have faith, then all you need do is turn around - you are already at the gates.  Life and happiness are not all that difficult.

"God is not telling us to honor abusers, who don’t deserve to be honored. It helps to remind ourselves that God does not do nonsensical, irrational, or contradictory things. He NEVER rewards evil, and he NEVER says anything to us that would make it easier for evil to thrive, or for abusers to get away with their cruelty. It doesn’t make sense that our God, who is All Good, would tell us to encourage and reward evil. If it doesn’t make sense and we do not feel at peace in our spirit about it, then it is not from God. We need to delve a little deeper into his Word and pray for a better understanding."

-- Rev. Renee Pittelli

Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider another viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, and instructor. He is founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance and author/editor of the Congregation's official blog site, "The Path," which offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination.

My Sunday Thought for 10302016: Perpetually Offended and Unequal... by Choice?

"I'm not a racist, and I never have been. However, there's something I truly don't understand. Blacks want racial equality, and I'm all for it. I'm not for tearing down monuments or getting rid of flags, because that fixes nothing, except to feed into the victim mindset. My question is this, if blacks want to be viewed as equals, and I agree they should, why aren't they willing to see themselves as equals? It seems as though many whites I know aren't looking down on anyone, and that's almost making the blacks mad. It has gone from, "I'm your equal" to "Can't you see I'm a victim?", and that has me terribly confused."

The introductory statement, above, is from one of my avid readers.  She speaks of a confusion which is common for most of us, and even many blacks.  None of us denies that there is still an undercurrent of subtle racial tension in the United States.  We have come a long ways since the days of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speeches on equality for all.  It seems we still have a journey ahead of us.  This post is going to rub the League of the Perpetually Offended the wrong way but, then, what doesn't.  I fully expect to catch another volley of their repetitive whining.  I take solace in knowing that even if it were a perfect world, they would bitch and whine about the very perfection of it.

I think societal norms become issues when the pendulum moves from center.   Issues like racism can swing the pendulum so far from center that the gravity of the offense will pull the pendulum back past center again and too far in the other direction creating an offense as equal and opposite as the original offense, i.e., two wrongs don't make it right.  The unfortunate consequence of this overcompensation is a loss of everything that has been gained in the fight, in this case, for equality.  Dr. King brought us closer to center than we have ever been.  He brought us so close to conquering racism that many children of all colors only know of the rigors of the fight through honest history, or those ignorant parents and leaders who seemingly fight hard to indoctrinate hatred in children in order to keep the offensive nature of this it alive to fulfill some sick agenda.  Instead of teaching children that some people think less of them, how about we try teaching they are so much more than some people think they can be, and then better spend our time by teaching them how to reach for the stars and be everything they are capable of, like President.

According to the offended, we are a country of racists.  And, yet, we have people of color holding positions of authority in all walks of life, including politics and the Presidency.  Politically, all colors voted these folks into office.  This is evidence of racism, or how far we have progressed?  We have passed laws guaranteeing equality in work and pay, and no tolerance for hate.  There is legal recourse for anyone thinking they have been offended or wronged.  Could it be that we are simply better defined as a country of whiners?  Maybe we would be better served whining less and making use of the laws which are in place.  Or, better yet, maybe we would be better served spending our time just trying more and whining less.  

I see racism raising its ugly head again, and the pendulum has definitely taken full advantage of the emotional gravity as we no longer see marches for tolerance, understanding, and equality but, rather, we see neighborhoods of the offended being burned by the offended, police of all colors being assassinated, chants and songs of "kill whitey' or "kill the cops," and even ignorant, emotional cries for citizens to burn their own cities to the ground.  How does this forward the peaceful agenda of Dr. King which has brought us so far in out fight for equality?  How does glorifying a dead criminal that wouldn't have thought twice about killing those honoring him do anything for this cause than to show the sheer insanity of it all?  Are some innocents killed?  Yes, it is an unfortunate reality, for the momentarily stupid, of not putting a gun down, or of doing what you are instructed to do, when armed police tell you to do it.  Are there bad cops?  Are there cops that make mistakes in the heat of a bad situation?  Yes.  We all hope we have tools in place to rid society of bad cops.  We all hope society will obey the rules of law, and police will be well trained, so as to mitigate bad situations and mistakes that can be made which may cause loss of life on both sides.  We must also understand that, even in a society of law, shit happens.

I have many friends of color on both sides of the opening statement.  Looking at them as a whole, I suppose I can see less than half of them seeing themselves as unquestionably equal.  I say unquestionably because the other half seem to hold onto the idea that if they continue to acknowledge racism it will continue to give their lives some sense of purpose.  They must know this ignorance is contrary to any positive outcome toward ending racism, yet it seems they are caught up in some sort of mass genetically ingrained hatred they are helpless to ignore.  As long as they hold onto this hate they will never be able to rise above it and they will be perpetually offended by ghosts which haunt them,.

The only way a person can ever hope to be a winner is by viewing themselves as a winner, rising above any perception of being anything less than equal, and acknowledging that we all live on this marvelous planet together and need to learn how to do so in fellowship with each other.  This is what Dr. King was all about.  We will have racism and inequality in the world as long as there are divisive hate mongers, on both sides, who will take any spark and fan it into an offense they can profit from, and who have ignorant followers that will hang on every vitriolic comment vomiting from the pie holes of this same infected "leadership."

I am often criticized for quoting and using Dr. King in my posts.  I have seen his people, and mine, bastardize his words and reinterpret his philosophy to excuse their own violence and hatred.  I feel no guilt in the face of such hypocrisy.  The real shame rests on the shoulders of his fair weather followers, those "Sunday morning Christians" who forget how far we've come, and the sacrifice it took to get us here.  The real shame rests on the shoulders of those who knew him, sacrificed their ethics, and used him for fame and fortune at the expense of their own people by inciting violence and destruction in his name.  Shame on me?  Look to your own self first.  Take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck from mine.

I will leave you with controversial food for thought in the form of this recent article:

http://dennismichaellynch.com/season-youth-football-team-pulled-kaepernick-style-protest/.

How does pushing racist or unpatriotic idealism on our youth do anything to correct the problems facing our nation?  It might be a bad analogy but, isn't this the same leadership, the same people spewing hatred, that would cry foul if the Ku Klux Klan were to be seen teaching their children the same divisive messages of hate?  It certainly doesn't help when leadership within these segments of our society make money off the misery of their people instead of working constructively to move forward and find a solution.

I have to ask myself how this unpatriotic nonsense forwards anything except pouring gasoline on the flames of divisive hatred and, more importantly, using, nay, poisoning the minds of these children to attain a solution that will be anything other than tolerant, understanding, or constructive.  It certainly will not bring all people together or forward any cause of equality and peace between cultures.

I could very well have this all wrong.  I'm Sicilian, Irish, and Indian, so what do I know about racial divisiveness?  Really, what do I know?  I wasn't there when Sicily was constantly conquered, or when the Irish had to prove their worth after landing at Ellis Island, or when the Choctaw were deracinated under the Indian Removal Act of 1830.  I wasn't there, nor was anyone alive today, yet we still have to suffer that extremely rare idiot, and those perpetually offended, which we have to forgive and pray for.  We rose above it all.  We were brought up to be more than what people thought we could be, to show them by our hard work, ethics, and honesty that we were as good, if not better, than they expected.  Equality is a personal choice.  You either accept that you are equal, or you show your ass and act like you aren't.  Unfortunately for those around us, equality is tied to respect, and respect, like everything else in life, isn't handed to you, you have to earn it, and learn to ignore the ignorance.

But, again, what do I know?

Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider another viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, and instructor. He is founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance and author/editor of the Congregation's official blog site, "The Path," which offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination.

My Sunday Thought for 10232016: Good vs. Evil - Keep Our Eyes on the Target

Q: What do you consider yourself to be, spiritually? Wicca?

A: This is why I hate labels. I walk the path of my ancestors. I have a very wide multicultural line in my heritage. So it's hard to say; many times I say - I am just me. Yet, my father raised me to follow my ancestors and culture, including spiritual beliefs. 

This is how I sum it up: Do no intentional harm to others. To me the harm, many times, is done with intent, so do not intentionally harm others. Much like the Hippocratic oath, you do everything you can not to harm another. I am pagan, not passive, and if someone attacks me I have the right to defend myself and the innocent around me.

I do not believe in Satan. How could I worship someone, or thing, I don't believe in. Yet, I do believe that evil does exists and it is our job, as good people, to stop the evil around us and to be an example.

Yes, when you study the different, so called, pagan religions, there can be many, unsavory beliefs which fall under that label, that I would never have anything to do with.

Why is Christianity considered good?  Look at all the evil which Christianity has visited upon humanity.  History records little of it except for those events too large to ignore, the Crusades, the Inquisition, the Salem witch trials, slaughter of the Aztec people and culture, but the lesser crimes are more and more coming to light, and let us not be so ignorant as to think these "lesser" crimes were not being visited upon the innocent from time immemorial.  Priests diddling young boys, or taking the pick of virginal womanhood for their own carnal pleasures has been going on since Christ died on the cross, and we have the unmitigated gall to accuse pagans of darkness, evil, immorality, and sin?  How dare we?  But Christianity has come a long way from the belief that anyone who wasn't a Christian must be possessed of some evil for which torture was a remedy and death the only true cure, innocent or not.

It would seem that ignorance usually rears its ugly head the moment an otherwise good philosophy falls prey to personal agendas driven by cardinal sins, more commonly referred to as the seven deadly sins.  

Things have become necessary to us, a development never originally intended. God's gifts now take the place of God, and the whole course of nature is upset by the monstrous substitution.”

-- A.W. Tozer (1897-1963), pastor, author

Before we go slinging labels around like any of us have a right to, which none of us do, let us first take a moment and educate ourselves on those we dare to label, and then let's take it from the proper Christian perspective.  Just because someone does not follow one of the 33,000 plus interpretations of the Bible doesn't mean they are going to hell any more than the other 29,299 who don't follow the one interpretation which might be right... and probably isn't.  Mankind can truly screw up a wet dream with little or no effort.  So, who deserves a label more?

“It is one of the gifts of great spiritual teachers to make things simple. It is one of the gifts of their followers to complicate them again. Often we need to scrape away the accumulated complications of a master’s message in order to hear the kernel of what they said.”

-- Julia Cameron, author, poet, playwright

Christians believe the only way to gain entry to the Kingdom of Heaven is through the teachings, the philosophy, of Jesus Christ.  Anyone who does not follow their spiritual view is doomed not to gain entry into heaven, therefore Christians feel it is their duty, assigned to them by their God, to lead those worthy of saving into the light, and pray for those they cannot save.  How this is done, and the level of hell those that can't be saved are relegated to, differs by their particular interpretation (as a reminder, over 33,000 interpretations).  Christians have come a long way, baby.

Every spiritual philosophy plagued by followers, adherents, or those people who will not deign to accept any position except that of spiritual leader, have already been doomed to endless interpretations and, by extension, internal politics.  This is why when anyone tells me they're an adherent to a particular philosophy, that has a congregation and leadership, I sigh deeply and tell them I feel their pain.

“Spirituality is not adopting more beliefs and assumptions but uncovering the best in you.”

--Amit Ray, Indian author and spiritual master

A witch is a witch, cut and dry, and all witches are evil, right?  If the Wizard of Oz taught us anything, it would be that there exist good witches and bad witches.  As with everything in the universe, there exists an opposite.  The universe must have balance.  If we look at the four non-Christian spiritual philosophies I have listed here -  Shamanism, Wicca, Paganism, and Satanism, the only difference between them and Christianity would be the inclusion of Christ and God, and a priority of love for nature and self.  

Satanism is a stretch, even for me, though I think our mistrust of it comes from the name we identify with pure evil, more than with their core beliefs.  This is like damning everyone in the South because, after 156 years, people still need something to be offended by instead of putting that energy into something constructive instead of a piece of cloth. Education would offer that the North owned as many slaves.  Are we to ask the Federal Government to remove Old Glory to appease these same offended individuals?  I think not.  We have so much more to worry about in the world, and we waste our time with such nonsense. 

“The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread but there are many more dying for a little love. The poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty -- it is not only a poverty of loneliness but also of spirituality. There's a hunger for love, as there is a hunger for God.”

-- Saint Teresa, aka Mother Teresa (1910-1997)

I'd like to give everyone a thought to ponder. I have joined two quotes I think are apropos to this conversation. The first is by author June Ahern, the second, and more important, is by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955), a philosopher and Jesuit priest: “How hurtful it can be to deny one's true self and live a life of lies just to appease others." "We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” Interesting thought coming from a devout Christian, a Jesuit priest, isn't it?

“I believe in God, but not as one thing, not as an old man in the sky. I believe that what people call God is something in all of us. I believe that what Jesus and Mohammed and Buddha and all the rest said was right. It's just that the translations have gone wrong.”

-- John Lennon (1940-1980), singer, songwriter

Note: To my dear friend for her statements in the beginning of this post.  With all of the issues plaguing her life, like the earth itself, she abides. She finds the time for others as she finds the time for my writer's block.  She has a habit of jumping in at the appropriate time, and that is usually when I need her most.  My continued admiration and constant thanks.  

My Sunday Thought for 10162016: God or Politics?

--Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi had a keen insight into social morality.  As a nation we are guilty of violating each of these seven social sins.  I'm sure each of us can put a reason for all seven, so... I'll give you my take on them and let you ponder your own.

1.  Politics without principles.  Really?  Simply take a look at the current presidential race to see the tremendous lack of principles in politics today.  It has been growing steadily as the news media has become more interested in fluff than substance, and have abandoned the basic rules of good journalism for sensationalism.

But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

-- Titus 3:9

2.  Wealth without work.  Welfare should have never been a quota driven system where rewards are given to those bringing the most on board.  Welfare was supposed to be a leg up for those who needed it, not a lifestyle for the lazy capable of honest work.

Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.

-- Proverbs 12:11

3.  Pleasure without conscience.  Sex without love, pornography, unwed mothers, fathers abandoning children, multiple partners, yadda, yadda, yadda.

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

-- Galatians 5:19-21

4.  Knowledge without character.  We used to have something we called "common sense."  There is nothing common about it, today.  Now you're lucky if you find any good sense.  Most people we find with any true intelligence didn't get it from our education system which has difficulty teaching the most basic subjects.  We have given up fact based learning for liberal, agenda based learning where facts are interpreted and histories are rewritten fictions.  Facts have been replaced by what the State wants you to know, everything else, truth, relies on a person thinking for themselves.  Good luck with that. 

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. As they were increased, so they sinned against me: [therefore] will I change their glory into shame.

-- Hosea 4:6-7

5.  Commerce without morality.  We gave a nuclear capability to our enemy and sold out or ally.  We put the safety of our country and that of another at risk for political and economic agreement which our enemy had no intention of honoring from the onset.  We send our jobs overseas, along with our businesses, while we suffer massive unemployment here at home.  We pay through the nose for pharmaceuticals in our own country yet give them away in others.  

A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but accurate weights are his delight.

-- Proverbs 11:1

6.  Science without humanity.  We murder our own unborn babies for the advancement of science, the almighty dollar, and so many other selfish reasons.  We excuse murdering children, as though it is our right to do so.  We allow pharmaceutical companies to curry political favor and dictate our morality.  If a fetus isn't considered life until it is born, then kill it before it passes the uterine event horizon and all is legal.  When did a doctors forget to do no harm?

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.

-- Proverbs 31:8-9

7.  Worship without sacrifice.  Isn't this the crumbling foundation which allows the other six to grow, unabated?  Our lack of faith, our denied hypocrisy, allows us to excuse the murder of unborn babies and approves half of our society to sit on their lazy asses and take from those of us giving honest labor.  We sit by and watch as terrorists cut five year old children in half under the guise of some sick, radical Islamic imam's, interpretation of the Qur'an.  Innocence is dying on our watch.  Innocence is being slaughtered because innocence wears the face of the wrong faith.  

Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.

-- Isaiah 1:17

We hand over our immortal souls to ministers and priests who are rife with more sin than many of their parishioners could even imagine.  Our clergy is more wrapped up in running a business than in saving souls.  Clergy seems too busy eating and drinking through their own 9 to 5 lives of running the business which has become church, than giving one tinker's damn about wandering the streets of the homeless and hungry.  Heaven forbid they give up their nice car, warm bed, and crystal cathedral, to actually make a difference in the lives of those truly needy and not the hypocrites darkening the doorstep of the Lord every Sunday.  We are all about putting on the great show of worship, then turning our backs on the least of us. 

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

-- Matthew 6:24

I leave you with one last thought as we approach the November elections.  If you are a person of color, this election is of utmost importance to you and your equality.  We have come a long way since Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and we still have work to do.  Do not be swayed away from the path of peace by those wishing to profit from ignorance, especially those in your own house who would use their own people as a stepping stone to fame, fortune, and hypocrisy.  Our morality is under fire, our Christianity is under fire, our health is under fire, our soldiers are under fire, our retirement system is under fire, and our Constitution is under fire.  Fortunately these attacks are all coming from the same direction.  Let knowledge be your weapon of defense, and remember that God has your back.  If it flies in the face of your faith, be critical of those uttering the bullshit.  Evil is a great deceiver, and in this election evil is emboldened by the media to lie right to your face as though you are too stupid to see the forest for the trees.

"May I suggest that this upcoming Presidential election may prove to be most important in our lifetime. We really do not need another president who follows the same mistaken and broken policies that have been followed for at least the past thirty years or more. 

Our nation can no longer afford the nonsense promoted by the banking community, the so-called Federal Reserve–which is neither Federal, nor is it a reserve. It is a banking cartel which does not have the interests of this nation in mind whatsoever, but their own pockets.  

The Bible declares in a most straightforward manner that national debt is the curse of God."

-- Jerome Smith, Real Bible Study

 Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider another viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, and instructor. He is founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance and author/editor of the Congregation's official blog site, "The Path," which offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination.

Destiny Is Not a Reason, Its Perspective

Note: The photo to the left is a stock photo of a child with cerebral palsy. I have blurred the face for privacy reasons. I have no issues showing photos of children, but I will not have it said that I use photos a child's affliction for any purpose than to make a point. I will not make that point at the child's expense, or the parent's.

Destiny is not a reason, it's an explanation.

What goes before is the reason for what will come after.  What is now is simply the answer to choices made before.  Fate is the consequence of where society, nature, God, and our own decisions, have brought us.  It is the answer to my favorite question, "Why?"  For example:  Give me a reason as to why should we leave here.  Explanation might be: If we do not leave here, it will be our fate to die here.  In this explanation, our fate, the answer, bodes the question of why and reveals the reason for our fate.

I wanted to be so much in my life.  I had childhood dreams of being a fireman, policeman, pilot, and such.  My vision was so bad as to preclude such careers from my path.  My "destiny," the explanation that would be the answer to my living, would lie elsewhere.

I bemoaned my poor vision for most of my life.  Why was I destined to physically not qualify for many careers I would have enjoyed?  I was very surprised when the military took me regardless of my eyesight and the vehicle accident which damaged both knees and my leg.  The surgeon was that good putting me back together, glasses corrected my vision to 20/20, and the draft was ongoing for the Vietnam conflict.  Basically, they needed more bodies to throw at the enemy.  Screw that... I joined the Air Force.

My eyes have seen things many people won't, or don't.  I tend to look at the world differently.  Maybe it's because I've had to look at the world through eyes requiring constant knowledge of where my glasses were, or I was legally blind.  Looking at things differently may be my sense that was sharpened by being handicapped.  Whatever the reason, I was treated to another message reminding me life hasn't been all that bad.  It was a message reminding me that, no matter what destiny we find ourselves fulfilling, no matter what explanation to our lives we find our destiny explaining, it can put what our lives have become into some perspective.  

My recent perspective on life came yesterday during our 20th Anniversary "Cruising the Coast" celebration in our little town.  The main avenue was packed with vintage cars, vendors, and the usual parade of mankind.   Beer and cigars flowed freely from my usual haunt, and I volunteered to man the outside beer taps which was the best vantage point to take it all in.

I noticed a young man, probably between the ages of 12 to 16, in a walker similar to the photo above.  He was endeavoring to keep up with the couple ahead of him, probably his parents, and doing a fair job of it.  They stopped at the Air Force Reserve recruiting tent set up just next door, and that is when it hit me.  As much as he might dream of flying, he would never realize it.  Nor would he realize the much simpler accomplishment of just wearing a uniform.  These careers would be forever out of his reach.  His destiny would lie elsewhere, God bless him.

As I watched his mother put an Air Force Reserve promotional chain around his neck, he smiled and studied it before they moved on up the street.  He was dealing with his lot, and his lot was so much more than anything my life had thrown at me.  My destiny had brought me to this point in my life.  My destiny was the explanation for everything I had been through.  It had made me who I am, and will make me who I will become.  Seeing this young man put it all into perspective for me and reminded me to appreciate all that I have, even if it is just my health.

This is not the first time I have been reminded of my blessings in life, and certainly not the first time the message has come to me through the guise of the infirm, and the young.  I have no idea what path this young person will find to follow, or how long that path will be.  He will have to understand the explanation for his existence and, hopefully, destiny will provide a clear one even if it is only to remind the rest of us how precious what little we have may be.  I think we also have to look at our own lives and consider, daily, what message we may be offering other people to make some sense of their own destiny.  Is our message a positive one of appreciation, hope, love, and tolerance, or are we just more of the droning babble of conversation and another of the faceless multitude in the colorful parade of humanity?  

What is your destiny, or do you even care? 

Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider another viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, and instructor. He is founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance and author/editor of the Congregation's official blog site, "The Path," which offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination.