The Chicago Air & Water Show is literally happening as I write this post! CHItown is unfortunately partly cloudy which will make for perhaps a slightly indistinct fly-over today! The show is happening today and tomorrow; I shall report back soon in another post with more details!
Sacred writings usually show God as a forgiving God. The unity of the religions each show a different side of Divinity. When I was a child, I tried to grasp forgiveness. I was suspicious of why I should forgive. I had and have an alert which goes off in the face of hypocrisy and injustice. They are the two things which I cannot tolerate. So, of course, the Universe gives me opportunities to practice forgiveness. Practice brings a healing to yourself. This is something most people don’t realize: forgiving another heals us.
Buddha told a story of a man who had been slighted and who was angry with justice. Buddha stated that the man decided he was going to remain angry. Time passed and he held on tightly to his anger. It began to worm itself into his heart and soul. He became a different man. He was bitter, resentful and filled with hatred. Buddha says that anger that we hold on to is like holding onto a hot piece of charcoal in our hands. The anger tightens the hold the hand has on the burning charcoal. The result is that you are left with a terrible burnt palm. The anger has left you scarred and damaged. The person who needs to be forgiven has no idea that anything has happened. Whether he feels sorry or not for the original action, has no effect on the outcome. The only thing that would change the situation would be the words, I forgive you.
In the Torah, there are instances of Moses talking with G-d and reminding him that he promised to forgive his people. “Pardon the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your mercy, as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now. G-d’s answer was I have pardoned according to your word.” These words of forgiveness by G-d become the central theme of the Jewish High Holidays. These holidays are coming up in September. Because of God’s forgiveness the Jewish people, despite its shortcomings, exists to this very day.
This is relevant to today because we so often hear news stories where forgiveness is the major point. I remember when the Pope forgave Ali Mehmet who shot him in Rome. It raised tremendous controversy. Studies actually show that it is more life-changing to forgive than to be forgiven. There are many stories, though, of people who are forgiven changing their lives and becomiing the person they were meant to be.
One such story, is about an idealistic California college student who won a Fulbright Scholarship to travel to South Africa to assist the anti-apartheid movement; she went there and was murdered by a black mob during a riot. Her parents grieved for years, then decided that they should honor the work that their daughter had been so dedicated to. So they quit their jobs, sold their home and walked away from their comfortable middle class life. Eventually, the parents met two of their daughter’s killers. The two men, who have been pardoned, tried to atone for their actions by doing public service for a foundation the parents established in their daughter’s name. The parents forgave the two killers and they became friends, and the young men now call the mother, “Mom.”
Forgiving what has been done to you, and offering forgiveness for what you have done to another, is a concept that needs to be remembered and chosen in today’s world. It is a life-changing experience to decide to forgive. It is an important act to do in your life. It is one of the things we have moved away from in this so-called modern world. We have also left behind generosity, compassion, kindness, and gentleness. When we begin to put these concepts back into our lives, we will be on the road to peace. Peace within ourselves and throughout the entire world.
Don’t let the sun go down on your anger. Photographed and copyrighted by Barbara Mattio 2012. Sunset in the Caribbean.
~~August 18, 2014~~
A mask is an object normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance or entertainment. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes.
They are usually worn on the face, although they may also be positioned for effect elsewhere on the wearer’s body, so in parts of Australia giant totem masks cover the body, whilst Inuit women use finger masks during storytelling and dancing.
~~SOURCE~~
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mask
~~Masks in theatre~~
Masks are an important part of many theater forms throughout world cultures, and their usage in theater has often developed from, or continues to be part of old, highly sophisticated, stylized theatrical traditions.
In many cultural traditions the masked performer is a central concept and is highly valued. In the western tradition actors in Ancient Greek theater wore masks, as they do in traditional Japanese Noh drama.
In some Greek masks the…
View original post 243 more words
~~August 18, 2014~~
A mask is an object normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance or entertainment. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes.
They are usually worn on the face, although they may also be positioned for effect elsewhere on the wearer’s body, so in parts of Australia giant totem masks cover the body, whilst Inuit women use finger masks during storytelling and dancing.
~~SOURCE~~
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mask
~~Masks in theatre~~
Masks are an important part of many theater forms throughout world cultures, and their usage in theater has often developed from, or continues to be part of old, highly sophisticated, stylized theatrical traditions.
In many cultural traditions the masked performer is a central concept and is highly valued. In the western tradition actors in Ancient Greek theater wore masks, as they do in traditional Japanese Noh drama.
In some Greek masks the…
View original post 243 more words
The Watts Riots in LA in 1965
Picture credit: Wikipedia
I have been watching the News for the past week with a very heavy heart, as each day, as the events unfold in Ferguson, painful, ugly and difficult memories are brought back.
What is happening there, is in many ways quite similar to what we in LA and the surrounding areas experienced with Rodney King, in the 1990’s.
And both of these are entirely too much like the LA Riots in Watts in the 1960’s.
Then there was the Trayvon Martin murder, here in Orlando and the Trial and the verdict that once again met with violent public reaction and out cries everywhere.
All of these tragic events, these sad places, have touched my life, none in a good way.
That week in August of 1965 during the Watts Riots, was a time of total violence and great turmoil and no one liked what was happening.
Few were sure…
View original post 553 more words
Our hotel room with a view, afforded us a splendid vista of the Indian Ocean, and Sunday was a good day for dolphin spotting.
Isn’t it true that the sight of even one dolphin fin, can bring a smile to our faces? Where there is one, there are sure to be more.
Dolphins are very social creatures, and a joy to watch as they frolic in the waves, with not a care in the world.
“Man has always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much … the wheel, New York, wars, and so on … while all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man … for precisely the same reason.” ~ Douglas Adams
“The happiness of the bee and the…
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FERGUSON – Autopsy Shows Michael Brown Was Shot IN FRONT 6x by Officer
Part of a preliminary private autopsy report by Dr. Baden and Professor Parcells showing wounds on Mr. Brown’s body. Credit Dr. Michael M. Baden
According to a preliminary autopsy performed Sunday by New York City’s former chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Michael Baden, 18 year old Michael Brown was shot six times by Officer Darren Wilson, all IN THE FRONT.
Brown took four shots to the right arm and two in the head. The reason for so many wounds is that some of the bullets entered and exited the body more than once, “including one that left at least five different wounds.”
Baden points out that because there are no smoke burns on the body, the four bullets do not appear to have been fired at very close range.
FERGUSON, Mo. — Michael Brown, the…
View original post 241 more words
Powerful poem. Wonderful image.
Mensen maken de samenleving en nemen daarin een positie in. Deze website geeft toegang tot een diversiteit aan artikelen die gaan over 'samenleven', belicht vanuit verschillende perspectieven. De artikelen hebben gemeen dat er gezocht wordt naar wat 'mensen bindt, in plaats van wat hen scheidt'.
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