IMAGINE, John Lennon

When I first heard Imagine I thought it was kind of blasphemous. Imagine, no countries, religion! This can only lead to anarchy and no rule or reason. No religion? Where are our moral leanings coming from?  I thought. But as I grew older and I became more aware of the difference between what was being said by our leaders and what was really meant. I have come to the conclusion that John Lennon really had the right idea. In a way Lennon was being a prophet calling us to rethink all the things that motivate us and let love rule.

Just think if we didn't have to think about borders and stuff like patriotism, we wouldn't have to defend positions taken because it would benefit one country over the other. Food could be distributed to every one without thought of political purposes but just because we had brothers and sisters who were hungry. And religion is still causing more problems in this world because there are things like "holy wars" over supposed sins that are really caused by one sect trying to suppress another. Are Imams, Popes, Bishops and ethnic churches really necessary to remind us to "love our brothers as we love ourselves? Isn't this what they should be doing? Reminding us that God is love and to be God like is to love not hate, which certainly goes on between organized religions.

Lennon does say he probably is too much of a Pollyanna, a dreamer but considering the condition of the world as it was when the song was written, before that until now, maybe we should all consider the ideal and make a little change in ourselves which might start this crazy world to change. The change has to start small and grow. But just imagine, a world where we can really be one in hope, love and happiness. Really, consider it, it's not a bad idea.  Just as a starter read the lyrics to John Lennon's Imagine listed below:

Imagine there's no countries, 

It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one/lyrics/g/glee/imagine.html ]
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will live as one
Imagine there's no countries, 
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You, You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will live as one

Heal Not Hurt

The world is full of people with opinions who happen to think their point of view is correct and only those that agree with them are correct and the rest of us are in error, some great some small. Most of these people are quick to judge others for living a misguided life while they see themselves as perfect in most respects.

You would think those who follow Jesus would be the last to make judgments about anyone but themselves.

Matthew NIV: "Do not judge or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you." and "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"

I would say that is pretty clear wouldn't you? Jesus seems to be saying pay attention to your own salvation and mind your business. Stop being so harsh on others while you've got a bit of stuff to clear up in your own mess right now. All that with the admonition that if you are not careful YOU will be judged in the same harsh manner that you mete out your judgement on others.

The ultra conservative Christian, Muslim, Jew anyone who follows the religion of their choice and uses the written word as their guide has to be careful about words written hundreds or thousands of years ago when the common thought was different and scientific discovery of the universe, the body and the psyche was light years away from what we now know as truths about life. To follow those words as written is sure to lead into error, like holy wars, cutting off hands of those who steal and stoning of prostitutes. Surely one has to use knowledge gained through the collective learning of mankind to understand these type of things no longer apply. We have to look past the words to the intent and if you are Christian one truth prevails and that is love is the most important element of existence. Understanding that we are put here to help and build up rather than to tear and breakdown. I would bet all true religions have this concept at their base.

Yet we find people who would look at a life style and say those living it are hell bent. These very same Judges pass by the homeless, and sick without even looking while they eat well every night. Do you get my drift? The imagery here is pure and can be applied to those who say we should not give food stamps or care for those who are beaten down because they are probably in the position they are in due to their own frailty. And so what if they are? Are we to just go by and forget our brothers and sisters?

It is not only we the people, individuals who seem to forget that love is what is supposed to drive us in this world but it is our very institutions who continue to foster the idea that some of us are better than others and those deserve better treatment. The Catholic Church is run by Shepherds who put the institution's needs above children who were getting molested while they were saying that those who use birth control are committing mortal sin. The old boys club which is still running the Church is still committing women to second place as is shown by the recent attempt of humiliating the Nun who wrote a treatise and, heaven forbid, happened to mention masturbation in it and the right of women to have a special place in the church. The whole order was chastised publicly. You can look it up! The leaders walk around in splendid  robes while many of the followers are seeped in poverty and are mistreated by their own government while the church remains silent for political purposes. Without passing judgement on any one specifically I join in passing collective judgement on us all for allowing it to happen. The individual is acting in what he believes is the best interest as dictated by divine intervention. The individual should know better but doesn't. Collectively the institution should know better and probably does but it's blinded because love isn't the driving force, the life of the institution is. To end this I want to quote a few things that might explain what I think Jesus is all about and maybe what life should be about be you Christian or not.

"A new commandment I give you, love one another as I have loved you. By this all men shall know you are my disciples, that you love one another as I have loved you." AND

"Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - Think about such things."



           

Wisdom

Proverbs:
"1 Wisdom has built herself a house; she has carved her seven pillars. 2 She has prepared her food, spiced her wine, and she has set her table. 3 She has sent out her young girls [with invitations]; she calls from the heights of the city, 4 "Whoever is unsure of himself, turn in here!"To someone weak-willed she says, 5 "Come and eat my food! Drink the wine I have mixed! 6 Don't stay unsure of yourself, but live! Walk in the way of understanding!"

Wisdom is beckoning us to stop and and spend time with her so that we can become sure of ourselves as we gain greater understanding of what life is all about. One of the things we have to do is stop and eat of the food Wisdom has prepared for us. I guess that means we have to slow down and try and figure out what is important to us and whatever that might be we have to ask ourselves if whatever we are pursuing should be that important. 

Carpe Diem, "Seize The Day!". This is Wisdom's theme I would think. The past is gone never to be relived. The past can serve as an instructive phase of our lives. The future which we always seem to worry about hasn't come yet and may never come for some of us. The future however has so many variables attached to it that usually whatever happens is something we have never thought of. The only thing we have certainty about is the "now", the present moment which flies by so quickly we never seem to have time to enjoy the moment. Yes we fail to "Seize The Day", to enjoy the moment, the people, the loved ones, the time of our existence that is the only time that we actually own. 

We have to slow down and appreciate what is before us at this very moment. The problems of getting through the day, earning a living, getting ready for retirement make the day blur as it goes by us so quickly. The children we had and could hold in our arms and kiss them with great love are now grown and the magical time of their childhood is gone and hardly remembered because of the blur caused by the worries of the day, worries that rarely materialized. Now those children are caught up in the blur of the day, the same worries we had and perhaps they are moving too fast to "Seize The Day".

Perhaps the very person you were so in love with has faded from your life. When you had the chance you didn't stop to say you loved her, needed her, wanted to spend the rest of your life loving her. Now she is gone and the time is no longer present when you can say those things. The moment has passed never to be recaptured, and it is a shame that it has. 

So Wisdom is now beckoning to you, no matter what age, what your position in life is, Wisdom is beckoning to you to slow down and visit with her, drink of her wine, eat her food and "Seize The Day". Take the time to really love your children, tell the ones you love that you do love them, and don't be worried about tomorrow for the tomorrow you are concerned about will probably never come. Take the time to enjoy the meal set before you by Wisdom today.   

The Wizard of Oz

For a fairy tale written over 100 years ago and made into a classic movie "The Wizard of Oz" has great staying power. Some say there were political implications written in the book by the author but I prefer to forget all that and concentrate on Dorothy's three friends who she picks up on the yellow brick road as she wends her way to Oz to see the Wizard so she can get home.

I forget the order in which she meets them but I it would seem to me that they met in the order of importance of what they were seeking. The Scarecrow wanted a brain. The Tin Man wanted a heart. The cowardly Lion wanted courage. Of course to me Dorothy had all these things but she had to find her way home because that is where her heart was. On top of all that they were going to see a Wizard that wasn't a Wizard at all more of a con man who did it all with lights and mirrors.

So it seems that the theme of this is first of all one can't reach the destination of their heart and soul by the use of something outside of themselves. There are no Wizards, for the most part all we have is ourselves. While the traits of being smart and being able to figure out all the puzzles in the universe doesn't really mean much if you don't have the courage of your convictions to reach outside of your universe to attempt to reach beyond it all. Even with all that, one has to have a heart to see people and circumstances through the tender eyes of love never being judgmental, always trying to understand what moves the universe.

Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.", and he also talked about having the courage to strive to obtain your treasure. Isn't this what "The Wizard of Oz" is all about? Isn't this what living life to the fullest is all about? I guess we have to define what our heart is dictating to us so we can recognize the true treasure we seek and then we have to work hard to obtain that treasure before time steals it from us.

"The Wizard of Oz" was published in 1900. The movie was released in 1939 and must have been played hundreds of times on TV during the holiday seasons. Judy Garland was just a teenager who was made for the role, Frank Morgan played two roles but he was the Wizard, on radio became known as the magnificent liar, Bert Lahr, Ray Bolger and Jack Haley played the Cowardly Lion, the scare crow, and the Tin Man respectively.  And they played their roles magnificently as though they were made to play it. Almost perfect casting for all who were in the movie. The story, the theme always came forth, 'Your treasure is where your heart lies". The thought of it all has caused me to dig deeply to find where my heart lies so I can find my treasure before it is all used up. Have you taken the time to become a bit introspective and ask yourself, "Where does my heart lie?" so you can find your treasure?

       

Chose Your Words Carefully

He couldn't figure out what happened. They were having a phone conversation and she asked him how he proposed to his wife who passed away a number of years ago. He stared to explain what he thought was a funny way guys and gals dated back then and before he knew it her tone was cold and distant.

He remembered telling her that he used to tell his dates after a while that they couldn't see each other any more because he was falling in love with them and he wasn't good enough for them. They would cry but at least they left the date feeling good about themselves, it wasn't another guy walking away without any explanation. Except for his wife who actually laughed at him and until he would profess that he really meant it she didn't care if he did call or didn't call. It was up to him. A funny story no? They were together for over 50 years and only illness separated them and then of course death.

Her reaction was totally unexpected. "So you use the word love as causally as you would throw something  away ?" "Are you the type of guy who tells everybody he loves them just to get them to love him?". He was getting the feeling that she was upset about something then when she said, "When you said you loved me was that a casual use of the word just to get me to love you?", she inferred that he was just like all the others using words to play on feelings just for their own gain whatever that might be. He tried to explain that the guy  who used to say those things back in the day was not the same guy who she was talking to at this time. After the call he thought long and hard about what transpired. He was concerned.  He was really in a quandary because he didn't want to lose her but he feared that he might have over what was a minor misunderstanding in his mind. He finally decided on sending an Email to see if he could ease the situation. He really didn't want to lose her.

"Hi, I was thinking about our conversation tonight and  apparently I upset you when I related my play on words when I dated and how my wife and I got together. You have led me to believe your understanding of how I use the word "love" is too casual and perhaps that is how I view you as a casual happening. First of all I must point out that when my wife and I were dating we were barely out of our teens and it was a game, the dating game. Perhaps I flung words about without thinking of the actual meaning but that was the way back then. But though the years I came to appreciate words. I came to appreciate their meaning. My experiences led me to understand that one doesn't use a phrase such as "I love You." lightly because it has deeper meanings than a heart can discern.

I learned all about love from being with my wife. When we were in our early to mid years she was the most loving and giving woman I knew. She was a super mother and a super lover. But as she approached late middle years and old age she became sick, she had Alzheimer's. In the beginning stages we still said "I love you." to each other. As the illness progressed I kept saying it to her but she said it less and less until she only said it at the most intimate moments but finally as the disease progressed she said it no more. I kept telling her I loved her 'till the day she died. She used to tell people her husband loved her and was coming to see her but when I came I wasn't her husband, the disease robbed me of that, I was just a"nice guy" who helped her. Yet the meaning of the phrase, "I love you." coming from me to her kept having more and more meaning to me as I came to realize that while loving without reciprocation is very lonely and sad it also has a way of cementing the true meaning of love in one's heart, to give completely and wholly even if the recipient has no way of understanding what is going on. Yes I learned the meaning of the word love even as it seared my soul as I told my wife I did love her and she never fully understood as the end was nearing.

So when I told you I love you I fully understood what I was saying and meant it in the fullness of the word and the word's life. Of course I wanted you to love me back because as I mentioned before, love unrequited
is sad and very lonely, not because I wanted to seduce you in any manner. I am not the same guy who was out on those dates way back when. I am different because I have learned by living a  life that showed me nothing but love from my wife and family giving me the knowledge that one should never use that phrase, that word in any way but in complete truth.

One of your old time friends jokingly referred to me because of some of my flowery phrases as a "Hallmark Card". If you remember you actually gave me such a card. Now I want to want to send you the saying on it because it  expresses what I feel in terms in a way that it is much better than I could ever express it. "Since we met, I can honestly say that I've loved every minute we've spent together. I mean it. It's been wonderful. And I find myself liking you and loving you more and more each time we talk. You have this amazing ability to make me feel happy-about myself, about the funny little things in life... but mostly just about being with you. Because it is a very good place to be. I'm lucky I met you and I want you to know just how great I think you are.'. (Author-J. Gar)

So what do you say? Are we OK? Do you understand me better? Do you trust me?  I know when you say "I love you.", it is meant without reservation. And now you know when I say those words it is not a casual attempt to seduce you but to let you know my true feelings. I love you!"

He read over the Email many times before he took a deep breath and clicked on "send".



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