ASSURANCE: MATURITY AND CHANGE FOR THE BETTER ARE SURELY POSSIBLE.

One friend of mine, well educated but pessimistic about the possibility for the Christians of being able to make the difference, and force a change for the better of the societal behavior, uses to argue with me, that this will never happen, while these groups remain closeted in their remnant, and blindful, belief that God is here for the sole purpose of keeping them safe and happy.

He believes that real trust in God, and faithful following of His leading and commands, should empower them in such a way that could force the necessary changes.

He argues, and I tend to agree with him, that the societal role of Christians should be standing firm, stating and being consequential with our inconformity and uncompromising allegiance to what is right, to what is just, to what is derived from the negation of the inevitability of having to give up to the selfish, even if alluring, temptations of the materialistic search for happiness in term of wealth, comfort and personal well being.

I want to insist with him that there is a way, there is a possibility, there is a path, there is a care and protection available, even if it could be consider as a naïve interpretation of what Christians should believe, do and react to, when challenged into spiritual maturity and consequential behavior.

I want to share again the content of a very interesting message related to the Cherokee Indian adolescents coming into adulthood ritual that the following message refers to in such a sensitive and moving way.

THE CHEROKEE INDIANS RITUAL

When a Cherokee Indian boy starts his adolescence, his father takes him to the forest, blindfolded. And leaves him there in the darkness!

He has to sit all night on a trunk, blindfolded, until the sun rays come up, again, the following morning.

He cannot call for help! Because once he survives the night he has become a man! He cannot share his experience with the other boys because everyone of them has to face the challengeof entering manhood on their own!

Naturally the boy is terrified. He hears all types of noises. He feels that savage beasts are circling around. That howling wolves are nearing! And maybe humans out to hurt him!

He hears the winds blowing and squealing, and the grass unceasingly rustling while he sits on the trunk resisting the urge of taking off the blindfold.

He does not dare to do so because it is the only way to come out, as a man, from the ordeal.

Finally, after this terrifying night, the sun comes up and the boy lifts the blindfold… and then… is when he discovers that his father is sitting beside him!

His father has not left him. He has, silently, watched over him all night, seated on another trunk, to keep all dangers out.

Similarly we are never alone. Even if we cannot see Him in the midst of our life´s darknesses, He is always beside us, seated on the trunk of His mercy, silently watching over!

When injustices and adversities seem unbearable and unsurmountable, we must trust Him, and wait for tomorrow´s morning!

A new sunrise will surely come. And we will see Him face to face in the splendor of His glory!

If you believe, hope, endure, and wait for a better future, share this message. If you do not so, maybe it is because you lifted your blindfold up before sunrise and looked to the other side and did not see Him.

INCLUSIVENESS! TOGETHERNESS! A WAY TO GO!

As the final one, in the series of end of the year desires for the best for all, I include what the optimistic message from NavidadDeDeseos.com that I have translated and made comments on.

I have stated that intolerance and exclusiveness, promoted by the influential and controlling forces and individuals of this world, impede the taking conscience of the real causes, ways and methods, that keep us chained to unnecessary unbearable circumstances.

I have to state, too, that, consequently, is necessary to accept as unavoidable, the taking up, as ours, the challenging need to make the difference, firstly one at a time, and then, all together, in a real inclusive, and mutually sharing, and supporting way.

I do not know if they are Christians or believers, or belong to any denominational or any type of creed and doctrine. It is enough and sufficient to be people of good faith, sincere, outstanding and firm in what they say and do. Inclusiveness and togetherness is the way to go.

We cannot avoid the passing of time. 2010 is knocking at our doors and will enter our lives and homes, no matter what.

LOVE AND SHARING! IN ALL THEIR FACETS AND THEIR CONTENTS! My message to my friends at the end of this year!

The persistence and preponderance of Love! Love in living! With no hurry! With no fear! Transcending time and circumstances! Overcoming time and circumstances! Extending itself beyond time and circumstances!

I have been lately engulfed in the consideration and analysis of the oftentimes dizzying, confusing, usually illogical and biased, social and political upheavals that overwhelm the media and the people of our increasingly violent nation’s populations.

Then, Christmas time arrived and sort of imposed a halt, and a “taking a breath” of relief, to my mind and my spirit. By no means has this meant the forgetting about the causes and effects of our individual, communal and institutional pride, egotism, greed and insensitivity before the plight of the lesser favored or abused.

But it made me ponder over the transcendental statements of Ephesians 6:12 that clarify for all who care to see, the fact that we are no fighting against the blood and flesh people, but against the spiritual forces of this wickedness in the heavenly places.

Because the fight is that of the personalities and rulers , the powers and the world forces of this darkness of the higher levels of the artificially conceived social financial and political concepts versus the unavoidable and rightful positioning of mankind in relation to God, Nature and one another.

A beautiful Christmas card presentation, with a deeply felt message did arrive to my laptop to compound the need to stop, ponder, analyze and pay attention to the real concepts that should lead us to the rightful way of living until the final rest and glory comes and engulf us, raising us up to the place of eternal living.

I started to ponder again about the fundamental tenets of Faith, and Hope, and Love. Love remaining after faith and hope fade in the folding pages of our earthly passage through life down here.

Repeating what I wrote at the beginning, what is fundamental is the persistence and preponderance of Love! Love in living! With no hurry! With no fear! Transcending time and circumstances! Overcoming time and circumstances! Extending itself beyond time and circumstances!

I had to recognize, as I have pondered about in other comments that follow in this series of postings, that mankind is unredeemable and unrepentant when left to its own will and the greed and ambition of its earthly leaders separated from their Creator and Savior.

But it was also comforting to see Faith, Hope and Love in action through the vision, the resolve and the deeds of so many dedicated people that have transcended their time and circumstances.

In the realm of the Christians love expressed in the ministries oriented to the help and support of the dispossessed and abused, there is a continual growth and renovation.

I have been blessed and privileged, having had the opportunity to serve with some of them, or being a friend of others like the one I dedicate this end of the year message, and in him, to all the others that I respect and encourage to keep alive the freshness of their vision and their actions to transcend the years, as this “Fresh Air Fund” has done for more than already a century.

You do not have to be complex and complicated when you stand on firm grounds of beliefs and resolve. I hope to see all of them, a hundred years from now, being able to summarize what a man of faith, hope, love and resolve started in 1877.

The Fresh Air Fund History: In 1877, the Reverend Willard Parsons, minister of a small rural parish in Sherman, Pennsylvania, asked members of his congregation to provide country vacations as volunteer host families for children from New York City tenements. This was the beginning of The Fresh Air Fund tradition.

By 1884, Reverend Parsons was writing about the Fund for New York´s Herald Tribune, and the number of children served grew. In 2008, close to 10,000 New York City children experienced the joys of summertime in Friendly Towns and at five Fund camps in upstate New York.

Check http://freshairfund-newsrelease.com

I truly hope this example multiply itself in all our countries through the efforts of dedicated and unselfish Christians. To them, in the words of the following Christmas message, my encouragement and the assertion that Love, in its purest expression of unselfish sharing what we have and others need, will overcome the maladies, the injustices and the abuses of this confused and violent world.

The best of all should be that ministries were short-lived because by alleviating the sad consequences, the unjust causes that inspired them were erased by the positive changes in societies.

Unfortunately this is still and for times to come will still be just a dream, and ministries will have to multiply themselves, with my hope and prayer that their vision and expansion are not impaired or stagnated by human circumstances and weaknesses, that could impede their existence through the years and the centuries.

Because life has not to be like it is nowadays. Life is beautiful as Nature is beautiful. Life is challenging but should not be oppressive and destructive. And human beings, especially those in the higher social, political or financial positions should think it twice before destroying, by corruption or rejection, the people under their sphere of influence and power.

WHAT LIFE IS! OR AT LEAST HOW IT SHOULD BE!

There is a fairly common saying that goes like this. Mankind becomes deaf and blind when it comes to listen and pay attention to what point to the selfishness, pride and greed of the human being. It is like preaching in the desert, and even the sand becoming dust storms out to swallow the preacher.

I would love to be always optimistic and positive as my wife usually is, expecting always the resurgence of the goodness of man from the ashes of wrongness and misbehavior.

But the incessant pounding of all the social molders by all types of influencing means, ways, actors and factors that invoke precisely our passive acceptance of the right to live by way or our indifference, leniency or despondency, requires that we raise our voice to point out what is wrong and deceptive.

But this in no way discredit or denies that life is beautiful, that life is challenging, that life is a process where the stamina and the conscience of man is tested so it can strengthen up their up righteousness and resolve to do what is fundamental to live as life should be lived.

This has been a perennial quest and exhortation by men of all ages and generations. In all types of assertions and exhortations, and through all ways and means of communication as in the following message!

Life is a challenge. Confront it!

Life is an unending letting go.

Only with empty hands you will grab something new!

Life is Love! Live it, intensely and whole!

Life is Hope. Keep it always alive!

Life is a road. Keep on walking!

Life is creation. Never stop creating something better and new!
Life is also death. Dying a bit every day. Be always aware of this!

Life is learning. Always! Everywhere! Until the end!

Life is a gift. Be grateful for it!
Life is friendships. Care for them and protect them!

Life is beautiful! Keep your eyes wide open!

Life is truth! Never betray it!

Life is exciting. Keep yourself open!

Life has goals. Reach them!

And hope, always, for the best for yourself as well as for all the others!

But mankind it seems that has always preferred to live immersed in struggles, contradictions, overpowering and contention.

THE STRUGGLE TODAY AND FOREVER

One day the stone said…

I am the strongest!
Listening this, the iron said:

I am stronger than you.

Do you want to see it?
Then both fought until the stone

was reduced to dust and pieces.

The iron then said: I am strong!
Listening this, the fire said:

I am stronger than you!

Do you want to see it?
Then, both fought

until the iron melted down.

The fire said, when it won:

I am stronger!
Listening, the water rumbled: wait a moment!

I am stronger than you.
Do you want to see it?
Then both fought until the fire

fizzled out and turned to ashes.

The water then said: did you see?

I was stronger!
But the clouds exclaimed: No!

We are stronger than you!
Then they fought until the water evaporated.

The clouds exhulting said:

surely, we are strong!
Listening this, the wind said, wait!

I am stronger!
Then, they fought until the wind

chased the clouds away
and got them out of the horizon.

The wind victoriously said: did you see?

I was the stronger!
Listening this the mountains said:

watch out, we are stronger!
Then they fought

and the wind

ended up

caged within the mountains.

The mountains bragged:

we won because we are the strongest!
And then, man intervened saying,

oh no, do you want to see it?
And with intelligence and skills

perforated the mountains,
and let the wind go free,

ending thus

with the power of the mountains.

The man said:

I am the strongest creature alive,

until death came around

and with just an stroke

erased man from the picture.

Death was still exhulting

until GOD, “become man”,
After just 3 days

raised himself from the tomb,
Conquering death

and being given all power in heaven
On earth and above all Creation.

Despite this and since then

an unending struggle has been going on.
Not wanting to understand

that real freedom is
And can only be given by God,

not by men.
And is only lost

if individually given away

because it cannot
Be taken away

or imposed by others, to their liking.

The struggle being the inflicted pain,

the abuse and the fight

of men against men

and men against Nature!
Men always trying to usurp

by all means

the Place,

the Authority

and the Power of God

over Mankind

and the whole Creation!

The “setting of” of logical priorities and ways out of this universal mess and wrongly provoked chaos will be the subject of the next blog postings.

We will keep on pounding over the inner motivations of the myriad of arrogant, haughty, bold and violent uncontrolled little human gods so rampantly acting on the international scenarios.

We will also keep on trying to analyze the why and how of the proliferation of the international court of jesters and peddlers of favors, notoriety and their fleeting moments of fame, who crowd the waves of the television and internet media.

But AGAIN, WE MUST PONDER over the transcendental statements of Ephesians 6:12 that clarify for all who care to see, the fact that we are no fighting against the blood and flesh people, but against the spiritual forces of this wickedness in the heavenly places.

Because the fight is that of the personalities and rulers , the powers and the world forces of this darkness of the higher levels of the artificially conceived social financial and political concepts versus the unavoidable and rightful positioning of mankind in relation to God, Nature and one another.

Because there is an undeniable fact. No one, and this goes for all those fond of name calling, name branding, name attributing. No one side is exempt from responsibilities. Nor the capitalists, or the newly arrived to the top revolutionaries. Nor the conservative, or the liberals. Nor the bankers and financial speculators, or the grasping lenders without analysis.

Everyone of us must stop, think, meditate, pray, and change. But change for the better. Let´s remember and do not forget we all are just passing through the pages of life and Nature.

The nonsensical, blinds guiding blinds games of today!

The fleeting fruits and moments of life!

A few days ago I received through the internet email grapevine a message titled “your belongings” in Spanish.


It powerfully called my attention and I translated it adding some comments at the end, starting with a potential scenario in which the man woke up from his slumbering death, as a child resting in “himself adult hands”.


The purpose of this awakening was to be able to profit from the teachings that sometimes or oftentimes require that we die, or that we are taken away from the whirlwind of the dizzying world circumstances we are immersed in.


I had already posted it in my blog, even if I felt that something to be said was missing, but I had not wanted to keep on negatively pounding my thoughts upon the table.


I wanted to send a positive message to my sons and closest friends. I wanted to encourage my grandchildren and their friends.


But this “Sunday November 29th. 2009 Honduran elections”, and the unending and tiring appearance in all types of scenarios by the international players of all types, plus the myriad of television commentaries, have made me change my mind.

It is a blessed circumstance that the internet provides us with a podium where all types of comments are available, and we can express ourselves without restrictions.


I woke up early today to erase my posting, and add this preamble which I know will become the essence of what I wanted to convey in the first place. I hope the odiogo program that allows me to listen to what I write, allows me this time to erase what it was already complemented and change it and replace it with these additional commentaries.

Sometimes, when I embark myself in what totally absorbs my mind and conversations, which is the social behavior and political shenanigans, my wife asks me to be short, precise and concise in my conversations and writings.

She makes me remember my school days teachers, but times have changed, and the instrument and method is to incessantly pound over and over, until the message gets across and minds and wills are changed or manipulated.

Coming back to the Honduran elections, the subtle attitude changes, but still stubborn attempts to impose views and decisions that correspond to the Honduran people, just because they are poor, made me remember a game my four sons played when they were young and seated around the family dining table.

Because what is happening is or could be somehow twisted and used as an excuse by the political players that are so intent nowadays in controlling their peoples, in the name of the uneducated and manipulated masses.

My sons started the game by solemnly uttering a usual absurd opening statement. Then in a fast firing mood every one of them answered or added to the discussion the most absurd, solemn, nonsensical, unrelated reply or additional proposition.

And the game went on, without a pause, without blinking, without smiles, without paying attention to what was already said, until one of them winked, laughed, or started blinking, and this way being taken out of the game.

I usually added my part, until I took them all out of the game, sometimes staring at them, without blinking, without uttering a single word. Other times I did the opposite, quietly laughing and repeating to myself the silliest statements thrown around the table.

That´s what I feel directed to do today. I strongly feel that if every conscious person did the same, quietly laughing at or silently telling these well paid players and commentators to shut up and mind their own personal business, things could be better in all the aspects and levels of society.

But this takes balance, integrity, consciousness about what is right, just, and necessary, as well as the resolve to not let ourselves be oppressed and manipulated by the empty but bold and daring messianic agitators of today.

Because we cannot waste our time! Life is too short and we cannot expect to be given another chance by rebirthing ourselves as a child in our own hands, as I place as a potential scenario in my comments to the message I refer to in the video.

YOUR BELONGINGS!


A man suddenly died…

He realized that God was placing a bag by his side.
And telling him: My son, it´s time to leave and start walking!

The man, surprised, replied, why so soon? I had plans and many!
I am sorry, my son, but your time is over!

The man then asked God…
What´s inside the bag that you are carrying?

Your belongings, my son!

My things? My clothes? My money?
No!
Those were never yours.
They belonged to the earth down here.

Are my memories inside?
No!
They are not with you anymore.
They were kept, as his, by the time!

Are my talents inside?
No, my son.
They stayed back with the circumstances!

My family and friends?
No.
They were never yours. They were of the journey!

Well, at least you left me my wife and my children.
No.
They were never yours. They belonged to your heart!


Do you have my body in there?
No.
It was made out of dust and it had to go back to dust!


Then, are you giving me back my soul?
No.
It was never yours. It belonged to me!

Then, the man, fearful,
took the bag away from God and opened it.
He realized, surprised, that it was empty!

With a tear rolling down his cheek, the man asked God…
Did I never have anything?

Yes, my son. You had every moment you lived.
They were all yours to do the best you could while living them!

Life is just a series of breathed moments.
Moments all yours! Enjoy them to the hilt!
Make the most and best, out of them!

Do not let any of the things
you believed yours and weren’t to stop you.

And as a final, short, precise and concise comment as my wife so dearly likes, I want to add, that if we have the opportunity, or hopefully a second chance if we have wasted our first one…


Share them; give them to the ones who need them!
Place your hope and treasure in the heavens!


So, this potential scenario could be possible if God´s grace and mercy allows it.


And the man woke up, again, as a child,
To live life as we should live it!

BECAUSE

Nowadays, when there is so much confusion and noise,
Financial madness, vitriolic arguments,
Political Messianism, and violence,
mainly, and basically due to the boldness of the wicked,


Because of the idleness, the faked indifference,
and the feigned opposition of the irresolute and the weaker!

And these nonsensical situations make me remember my grandfather,
who,

When we were noisily fighting and pranking,
Used to, soberly, tell us,
With an admonishing finger tapping over our foreheads…

Behave! What´s the need to jump and holler,
When the floor is flat and even?



BECAUSE

Time just fly away!

Keep in mind this question.
Where will everybody be, fifty or a hundred years from now ?

Time just fly away!

Use your time wisely, while you have it!

Time to give thanks! And time for giving!

In my last posting I was referring myself to the negative sides of life, and the consequent negative approaches and comments about the ways wrongdoings affect us, and spread confusion, that prevents a positive approach to the challenges, and the possibility of overcoming them.


The paramount feeling was the desire to convey the need to stop blaming others and doing something to find solutions or ways out, ourselves.


I was planning to keep on commenting the derivations of the seven sinful tendencies of the human beings, in an effort to highlight the well intentioned deeds of some ministries, which I will, anyway, point out in the videos that will be included down here.


But, some things happened in a whirl winding way the last two weeks that have somehow highlighted and brought out, to the surface, the real existence and need for hope and trust in the resilience of the younger human beings.


I had to make 2 trips and was able to cross the vertical lines of society. It was a lesson to see from the top down and from down to the top, people living, people enduring, people facing life with resolve.


It was so intimately moving being able to dance in a posh hotel and listen to old and young, concerned with the outcome of a life based on lasting moral values. It was also moving to see them already making plans to be ready to make a difference for themselves and those around them.

It is rewarding to see them in action. It is encouraging being able to sort out the deluge of messages of so many others who will themselves in a daily mood to share the messages I share after making them my own.

It is rewarding to see that in the midst of adversity and disgrace, and as newer leaves and branches, out of the debris rises again the positively ingrained potential and longing of better things and futures that these younger generations will have to nurture and rely upon to be able to keep on walking and leaving a legacy to their children.


We, as humans, are not different from one another. We just feel we are, in the mistaken approach to strengthen up our personalities. We just react differently, and we discriminate our fellows, in the sadly, futile, effort to step upon them to reach what we consider is rightfully ours, being that pedestals of any type and mesmerizing social positions.


And, for not understanding this vital concept, we lose what is most valuable of all. Our sensitivity and the ingrained but innerly suffocated moral values that keep on knocking at the door of our conscience, reminding us that we all are, at least, partners in the journey of life, if we cannot accept the rightful but blistering notion that we are brothers and sisters.

Because this is what we are, brothers and sisters born from different human parents, but with a sole creator who did not created antagonists but complementally beings in order to tackle with the task of stewardship-ing His created nature where He placed us to enjoy and care for.


A myriad of thoughts and feelings have been overwhelming my mind and my spirit. They will give birth to future series of sharing’s and comments under the generic label of “Life question marks” that I will share as they sprout up in my spirit.


For the time being let´s enjoy the messages that are the core of the down here following postings. Meanwhile, let´s give thanks for what of good has happened in our lives.


Thanks, also, for the already overcome trials and the trials to come so we become better people. Thanks for everything, people and things that have been the chisel in the loving hands of God, in order to perfect our beings, as well as the refiner’s fire that has burned down our carnal and spiritual impurities.


And thanks for all those who have dedicated their life to help the dispossessed and the needy.