“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” – Ephesians 5:1-2 The call to imitate God sounds impossible. Yet, just as a small child imperfectly mimics a parent’s actions, disciples of Jesus copy him. […]
What, I can’t hear you, she shouts, he can’t hear that well, he is always complaining, if this was like that, the old days, the future days, all he does is complain. Stop, you are doing my head in. Who needs to hear about it every day, it does her head in. She raises the volume on the TV, it dims his words, why worry she thinks, her favorite character in the soap is about to propose to her love sweet heart, her eyes are glistening, the semblance of tears, the feeling you get, when the emotions are on the rise. Go on she says, ask her, shut up will you, If only I had ear phones, she wouldn’t have to hear him complain, she’d be able to focus on the moment, yes she says, good on you girl, it’s the first time she has seen a woman get on her knees to propose. Soap opera’s, they get you to focus on the now.
Jesus said the same, it starts today. There were many burdened by their past, carrying loads, they did not know how to unload. Jesus reminds us; put your trust in the Holy Father, learn his ways, and he will take all burdens off your shoulders, amen. When you are at your weakest, God is stronger inside you, amen.
Less distraction more action, she was used to his ways, he was always side tracking the issue. It became her talk, she being a mother, didn’t have time for pride to overtake her, the needs of others overcoming her, for she was born to love, being a mother from the day she was born.
Solomon listened to the news, the cat calls at the young protesters, and the disdainful comments of those who should know otherwise, how silly of them. The Global environment was a ship in the middle of a storm, pushed side to side against each approaching wave, the good captains and queens, working earnestly to keep the ship afloat, similar to the carers everywhere, just doing it, for goodness sake, for no other reason.
He sighs, should they not be encouraging the young to get involved in these healthy pursuits, why the resistance. Did they see, those in power seats, did they see an appeal in the young something so many seemed to be blind to. Solomon prayed, may we have 2020 vision, and see what has to be done, may the schemes of the extremists and the deceivers implode on them alone, and those who encourage all that is wrong… The Sun burst from the clouds, the Heavens were talking, put it in writing He said. Solomon wondered what else where was to do, being wise he hoped, he decided to wait, patience was a virtue few possessed, while the world expected the opposite, instant results, amen.
Solomon sighed, who was it, the prophets names, Isaiah, yeah, he prayed for rain, golly, there is power in His words.
A bunch of muscle flab flesh and bones gather in a large room, seeking agreement, a matter of words, once they are slung in the right order, peace is not far away. Jesus, meets some low life’s, low according to the Pharisee’s, he cures them, raises the eyebrows of the high and mighty, there is disagreement, well there would be no disagreement if he agreed with the practices of old.
The flab opens the mouth, another flab speaks up, another flab frowns, another flab checks the phone, another flab complains. They all claim to be believers, they will attend services, they will get on their knee’s, they will instruct their children, they want them to believe. So why do so many find it hard getting agreement, why the discord.
The parable of forgiveness, how often it was repeated, how many times, how many blows must you sustain, how why, why forgive anyway.
One of the flab has issues; lost a father in a conflict, had a relation who died in the war, had the hurt of others passed on to him, he was a child. In the meeting flab is touchy when harmony is mentioned and agreement; all the past hurts rush to his mind, the old memories, the hurt; if only he could have forgiven, or if the hurt had not been passed on, if only….
Demons make hay while the human soul hangs onto hurt, amen.
it’s so full of drama, confusion in many places, millions running to escape, others travelling thousands of miles to find a home, meanwhile, a young girl is telling all what to do, see how they threaten that young opinion, were our leaders not supposed to encourage questions, no more agree with it, your job is too precious to risk, does it not remind you of the time of Jesus, the similarities and the threats, the effort to rubbish the simple logic of a young girl, we heard it all before, and the best the commentators can do, is try to drown the message, cause it shows up their incompetence these last twenty years.
Solomon was reading some of the choice comments from supposedly clever people, who made less than flattering comments about the young Swedish girl Greta, was it not very hypocritical, the very things she was stating, was on the minds of millions, makes you think what the many millions thought, stand up, create space for loving Spirit to dwell in you, you will be delighted when you do, and more importantly, you are never alone.
How often we look at others, our eyes turn down, for a moment or two, as we try to digest what it feels like, or how lucky we feel, it wont happen to me, they don’t seem too well, how could they cope with it, their loss our escape, lucky us, how long do we read the news from afar, the casualty list, the numbers, do we think of families or is it our luck we are sizing up, lucky me. How lives can change with dramatic affect, for all time. Solomon recalled the morning news, all those years before, the seeming animated picture, this could not be real, not live on TV, it has to be a computer generation, then the reality a minute later, that’s real people, that was real jet fuel, that is real life and it’s before the eyes of the world. How one day can alter so much. History teaches us, anything can happen, and old scripture reminds us, there is another life.
Solomon listened to the news, the anniversary, the where were you moment as it were, and the decisions made afterwards, to start a war, and the results thereafter, when the call for a great peace was lost in the big talk, we’ll get even, regardless of the cost, the soldiers return home years later, shell shocked, the desire for guns increasing daily, the nationalistic calls, revenge and security, we have the power. The Roman empire wanted to dominate the world through force, or fear, God had other plans, the memorials still exist, to remind us, war does not work, it only leads to worse.
Mothers, fathers brothers sisters, when did revenge do it for you, or what did revenge do for you; usualy caused more need for guns, and the mentality that using force brings, hatred usually, amen. Jesus pleaded forgiveness, knew how our thoughts are formed, the baggage that destroys, those bitter memorires that you save up, for that great moment, same as the viagra hidden in the shaving bag, for use when you could not do it yourself, but there in the bag, in order to save your pride. Well, in a world thar that wants immediate satisfaction, there are no buffer zones, or patience. Amen
learn from your life, don’t ignore your past, and don’t over burden yourself with worthless baggage, forgive your mistakes, and forgive others theirs, this life is a journey not a day trip, so while you forgive others, others may forgive you. How can you say you don’t like fish if you don’t try it a few times, same with forgiveness, until you try it you will never know what it feels like, the rush of energy you will feel, the lightness of being, the inner well being. Perhaps, you want to feel misery and just pass it on, stay addicted as they say. As children, we learn from the imitation around us.
Solomon was trying to get to the nub of the issue; how to become light, as we are children of the light. He surmised, I guess you have to unload the resentments you store up inside. Can you imagine a bird flying with an Iron Bar attached to his leg. Neither do I. There were many little habits that we could build into our lives, easily. Don’t look away when you see suffering, don’t elevate yourself when one day you will be the same as dirt, who are you fooling. Stop before you go out the door, think, will I do something good today, and if you have a talent, it was given to you to be shared out. AS Neil Young says, castles in the Head, zero on the ground, (well)….
Birds Fly, they wear no parachutes, they rise when they want, they can see a worm from a thousand feet, and a small fish under water from
far on high, and you think you have a special skill; well, you did once. Light, find it inside you, amen.
The prophets of old, the words of Jesus, written many times, the day is unknown, the hour, but when it happens, the great change, it will be instant, the light of God will be all the religion they will need. In a nutshell sighed Solomon, rather than dwell on what divides so many believers, who not focus on what we have in common, and work back, love God first, and it will all work out. Not bad trying to figure out your purpose on earth, amen.
Did it matter, they were watching from the shadows, the coins in their pocket jingle, reminding them, there was more where that came from, eyes that pierce. He held the audience, they listened to his words, there was only one of him, they were plenty, how was he able to do it, they were getting angrier by the day, as he stole their claim on them.
Solomon was watching the old clint movie, the “pale rider”, the community miners, and the big business interest, and the conflict. As they stood together, they were strong, alone you were vulnerable, same as a woman on a late night street unlit, there is a threat. In the world of image, where appearances count for so much, did it really matter, where you came from, so long as you stood together. It was the sign of the believers, they did not make comparisons between each other, they worked on helping each other.
It made the actions of Jesus all the more remarkable, under constant threat, he beleived in the Father, and they were not able to do anything.
Mother, you won’t be needing those things, we will provide everything. The scene is horrific, the lady and her children are in detention, soon to be gassed. The movie is poignant, Schindler’s list, the words stick, the context is one of cruelty, we know what is going to happen next, we see the red dress, and we sigh, the poor little one. Sadness, but in another context, here is the good news, and it’s not a movie scene, but it’s just as real.
Life goes on, and your experiences go with you, the soul never dies, it’s imprinted with your deeds and actions over your lifetime, and passed to another living human being. The promise of life eternal, death is not the end. There is the good place, and then there is the examination you have to re take, how groovy is that. So being good in life, does have great future benefits. The material stuff is left for the relatives to fight over, which they will do anyway, but the good stuff, how you effect the emotions of others, basic love that is, is pure gold in the eyes of the Most High. Isn’t that just wholesome. The sandwich sticks in the throat, he runs out of the deli, gives his meal to the hungry guy outside. It was the first time his conscience was stirred. Solomon laughed, this is going to put a smile on a few faces, and it cost nothing, amen, just a little heart. The wisdom of Jesus, you just have to read the stuff, and apply it daily, a make up with foundations.
paddypicasso 