Author: rkcdlitt

The Goodness of Man:

I always question the basic goodness of mankind. Being good is not an automatic quality; I believe that we have to work at being good. Now, before you jump all over me, let me explain. With Scripture, we’ve been entrusted with some of the most powerful stories ever told. How we harness that power, whether for good or evil, oppression or liberation, changes everything.  

There are times that a man will take the route of pleasure and ease, before he opts for the correct thing to do, or the good thing to do. It’s in our nature. Think about this: you get a windfall of $500.00; you don’t need it, but it came your way, maybe by winning a bet. Do you buy that new flat-screen tv, or do you use the money for a charitable purpose? Think a minute.

Now, I would like to have a new flat-screen tv for my office, but I don’t need it. Do I use the money for some other purpose, or do I conclude that I really could put this to better use, donating it to a local food bank, or some such entity?

I know a family who won a major lottery; yes, they paid their bills and changed their lifestyle, but they have also donated millions to charitable programs to assist the less fortunate in their community. Not all of us would do that.

Personally, there are two instances where I believe that I might do the same. The first happened several years ago, when I won a 50-50 at our local high school football game. The person selling the ticket guilted me into buying one, saying that I could give half to our church. I won; I gave the entire $200.00 to our church. Would I do this if I won a lottery? Well, maybe not all, but I would a lot.

I also subscribe to several faith-based journals, and, periodically, they send out surveys, with the promise that if you respond, your name will be placed in a drawing for $100.00 prize; I never put my name in for the prize; the religious organization should keep the money for their ministries. Of course, if I won, I could give it to one of my church’s ministries. To me the difference is not worth the bother.

I remember the verse from Proverbs, and I paraphrase: most men will proclaim their own goodness, but a true man of faith is hard to find.

So, what makes us good? I honestly believe that most of us in our hearts are good, but many times we fail to live up to the standards we set.

One final thought: in the Bible book, the Wisdom of Solomon, there is a statement about women; verse 7:26 says, and this is exact: “For she is the brightness of the everlasting light, the unspotted mirror of the power of God, and the image of his goodness.

Discovering God

You reached for me;

I swatted You away.

The depths of

Depression

Blinded me

Wraithlike visitors

Arose before me;

Foundering in anger;

Engulfed by counterfeit silence,

You lifted me

From my abyss of enmity,

With unfamiliar resoluteness

From the void of depression,

I received Your grace;                                                  

The trust of Your hand

Gave new life.

   Violence

I begin with this meditation by Brother Geoffrey Tristram (The Society of Saint John the Evangelist): “There are many voices of violence in our society. Violence in our movies, violent games and websites. Lax gun laws in this country which scandalously cannot be reformed. Violent voices, violent organizations, which grow and flourish and take root. With these voices of violence so loud, it is our responsibility as Christians to stand up in Jesus’ name and speak with his voice of peace.”

Our global societies are engaged too much in violence. I am a news hound, and since I can no longer endure reading about what is occurring in Washington, I read a lot of world news. I get discouraged when I read about who is fighting whom, and what treaties are being tested due to misunderstandings and cultural or religious differences.

I know that according to the Bible, man’s propensity toward violence is displayed in brother killing brother. The symbolism in this story is so apparent that I need not say that this is the history of all mankind. When we denigrate a person because of their gender, religion, or national origin, we are not only harming them, but we are also harming ourselves and the greater good (read God) for the world. I read about what we are doing to immigrant children in this country, and I can visualize what our leaders will say in fifteen or twenty years: “Why are these people so violent in our society? Why do they hate us so?” These leaders do not understand that their actions today bring forth consequences tomorrow, most times, unfortunate consequences.

I don’t attend many political meetings, but when I do, I always question why the leaders do nothing about curbing violence in our neighborhoods, gun violence being so prevalent. Usually, their response is something such as guns don’t kill people, people kill people. Or, my favorite, there is very little we can do about the violence in the streets.

I accuse them of hiding their heads in the sand like the ostriches do.

Through my efforts, and my wife’s efforts in feeding those on the edges of our society, we are trying through prayerful means to assist some of the people who have been left behind by our greedy leaders. I pray that our efforts, and the efforts of many like-minded people around the world, will eventually produce societies that do not have violence as their primary action.

My apologies for this being so political, but my voice must join those who speak against violence.

Justice for All

There are many arguments in today’s societies about what justice truly is. Each society, culture, or subculture has its distinctive view and operates as if its view is law and should be what every society, culture, or subculture is forced to follow. Take, for example, gender issues; many object to the fact that some people do not identify with their birth gender. Gay marriage is viewed as abhorrent. Many people believe that people choose to be gay, or different sexually, than they are supposed to be. My observations are little less stringent. I believe that just as you and I are children of God, so are people who identify to a different gender. These are our brothers and sisters under God’s protection. To ignore this fact is to be unfair, not only to those affected, but to the person who has these views. I learned all too late that anger and hatred only irritates me. The person at the other end is rarely affected by my outlook.

So, I believe that true justice, honest justice, is what occurs when we recognize that we all receive God’s love; until we accept this, there can never be true peace on this battle-torn planet. To do this, we must be in constant contact with God. We must recognize His existence in our lives, His love and offered peace, if we will accept it. We cannot realize real inner tranquility, inner peace, until we refute the concept of aggression and perhaps war.

God’s peace, however, does not mean that this planet will be free from conflict. We are human beings who want success for ourselves and our families. This is natural. Nevertheless, we must leave a place in hearts, leave our doors open to allow God’s tranquility to enter each of our lives. What peace we can bring to ourselves and our families will eventually seep into society, and, hopefully reduce societal tensions. But we must work at it; it will not come easily; we are too prone to conflict.

Since earliest mankind, there has been conflict. Just read the first stories in the Bible about Cain and Abel. Or, think about the struggles between Adam and Eve, and their desire to be just like God. Jealousy and ego are our two worst enemies. I write a lot about community and love. But, I am a realist; I know that this is difficult and may not change. But I can pray for it, and I can work in my own sphere of influence to hopefully see the benefits of unity and diversity being able to sit at the same table prepared by God for us.

I share a prayer I wrote for our church meeting last evening:

God’s gifts are plentiful

Love, Life, Grace

We go to bear fruit

Accept and give His gifts

Be thankful when we receive

When we give

Be thankful for the Love of Jesus

For our mirror image of Him

His wonder in our goodness

Our sharing

Our going forward

To bring the fruit of His Love

To others.

Amen

  All are Welcome

One of my favorite Psalms (23) includes the line saying that God prepares His table (in the presence of enemies) and anoints us with oil. Our cups overflowing. My understanding is that God, in His, or Her, infinite wisdom, welcomes us regardless of who we are and what we are. All we need to do is show up.

Everyone is welcome at this table; I don’t care what others say, because if we exclude anyone for any reason, we are going against God’s will. A Black representative to congress in the 1960s and 1970s, Shirley Chisholm, added to this saying that if there is not a chair for you bring your own folding chair. She understood that all are welcome to God’s table.

To accept this basic tenant of faith, we must have peace in our hearts, not just on our tongues. If we do not work for this inner peace, or in this case inclusion, we are not at peace; we are not peacemakers and therefore are not children of God, the God of peace and love.

We are commanded by Jesus to love our enemies. He did not place any stipulations or reasons that allow us not to love our enemies. When we do love all, when we are honest peacemakers, accepting everyone as God made them, we open our hearts to true love for all mankind. This love allows us to heal from our own wounds and disappointments, and eventually, allows other to see how happy and content we are. My feelings are that given time, those who oppose accepting everyone will want to enjoy the freedom and happiness we have.

Wow, I sound like a preacher on a Sunday morning.

Fear of the other leads us into many dangerous areas. There are many things that I fear, especially in the social climate of the world today. I was born during World War Two, was in the Marine Corps during Vietnam, and had a son who was part of the invasion of Iraq earlier this century. These now are times just as frightening; can we again be going down the path to warfare, and will other young men and women have to sacrifice their lives to prevent all people from sitting at God’s table?

Are we faithful? Are we humble enough to be sincerely faithful? Ego and pride are great obstacles to being honest and faithful. One of my daily prayers is to ask God’s help in reminding me that everyone is my sibling. I try not to spew hateful language about those I disagree with. Most times, I am successful, but I still think and feel the hatred growing within me. I love all people, even when inside me, I question how I can love a certain individual because of all the things he does to hurt me. Outwardly, I can turn the other cheek; inwardly, Inwardly, I find this difficult.

The outcome is my turmoil, preventing me from realizing true inner peace with myself as a child of God. Each day I pray that God will renew my spirit again and again to stand firm in my Love for Him and all his children.  

Sacrifice

The dictionary defines sacrifice as something surrendered or destroyed for the sake of something considered having a higher or moral value.

Let’s examine what this means. In times long past, people sacrificed animals to their gods, believing that the sacrifice of something this special (i.e. food) was giving up something to please a higher authority. We Christians pray to the Son of God who was sacrificed for us on the cross. Jesus gave his life to show that death was not everlasting, and that when we die, we only pass from one existence to a much finer and more blessed state.

In both cases, sacrifice was made for a more defined good outcome.

In other cases, I consider that I sacrificed many hours and a lot of money pursuing my education, ending with teaching at both the secondary school and college levels. I pray that my sacrifice enabled many young students to find their way on their own paths of life. My wife sacrificed many hours of leisure with her husband to work to jobs to help put our children through college without the debt that so many suffer with now.

In these cases, sacrifice was made for a more defined good outcome.

Around the world, there are many people dying in useless wars; others are migrating away from the conflicts, moving into refugee camps where their lives are miserable. In other parts of the world, there are people suffering without sufficient food or water to live healthy lives. In some countries, such as the United States, there are people being incarcerated in tent cities, because they are not deemed good enough to immigrate into our beloved, but mistaken, country. There are also millions in prison, who, when their records are examined closely, do not deserve to be there. I had a student in one of my college classes, who spent several months in a Virginia jail because in his possession was too much marijuana. The police accused him of selling it; they refused to accept that it was all his. He went on to become a successful college student and then an advocate for human rights.

These people are sacrificed for something quite a bit less than a more defined good. To me, their lives are sacrificed because narrow-minded people feel that their opinions and needs are greater than those suffering.

One of the more disgraceful types of sacrifice is that experienced by our veterans. I know too many homeless veterans, who suffer daily from the psychological experiences faced in combat roles. These veterans are cast aside by people who feel that they are no longer worthy . . . of what?

Jesus preached about the poor and needy. He brought great comfort to many who suffered under the rule of both Rome and the self-aggrandized religious leaders of his times. He demonstrated to them that there is a greater voice than the selfish, egotistical rulers.

I was recently asked what my purpose in life is, now that I have retired from teaching. My only response is that through my writing, my prayer mentoring, my sitting by the bedside of a sick person, praying for their physical and spiritual recovery, I pray that I am doing something to relieve their sacrifices. I believe that is what God has prepared me for my entire life. All the failures and successes I have had were guided by His hand to prepare me to be a better prayer counselor to my brothers and sisters in distress.

May God continue to lead my path in the light of His love.   

  I’d Rather be Honest than Right!

The only thing I can say that I am usually right about is when it comes to writing an English sentence. After all, I did teach writing in English at the college level; so, I can safely say that I am usually right, when talking about writing or speaking in English.

In all other circumstances, I would rather be honest. Those who know me, know that I am not one to hold back my words. I will speak on many different issues. I don’t consider myself to be an expert on all things, but I do have opinions. I try my best not to make my opinion more important than others. I will never disrespect the opinions of others.

I think much of this stems from my belief to respect others. All too often, I observe that people, who try to impose their wills on others, do not respect others and have little patience to listen to what others say. Think about the person who is obviously thinking of their response to what someone is saying, instead of hearing what that other is saying. We all experience this in our daily lives. The person guilty of this does not respect what the other is say, only cares for his own opinion.

I just returned from a spiritual mediation period at church, called Lectio Divina; which is primarily a mediation on Bible verse and sharing with others. It is a great chance to share faith and support with and for others. I know there are some who look to me for guidance, but I will not interject my opinion into what their reflections are; what I will do is ask supporting questions to allow them to expand on their meditations.

The result is twofold. Primarily, they get to explore their beliefs deeper, and then I get to learn from them, which enhances my spiritual life. The questions I ask are spur-of-the-moment; I do not plan what I will as; I spend my time listening, listening to them out of respect for their sharing their innermost thoughts. My reflections, spoken or not, are honest. I will not judge what they are saying. I am truly interested in their views; they are important to them and important to me. I can learn from others; I cannot learn if I disrespect them by trying to be right rather than hones with them.

One of my spiritual goals is to understand my fellow man on a much deeper level, which enhances my understanding of God.

I realize that this is longer and more free-ranging than usual; it is a most difficult topic. What do you think? What are your views? Please share.  

 I always question why we are so interested in what other people do, or what others have. Jealousy may be a response; more often it is nosiness. We are so interested in others that we sometimes forget about ourselves. Some of the issues I question have to do with faith, ethnicity, and, of course, sexual identity. Personally, I do not care what faith a person follows, where a person’s family comes from, or whether he loves a man, or woman. His life is up to his own personal relationship with God. God does not ask my opinion; therefore, I offer none.

I have friends who are jealous of what others have. Why? Others’ lives are not different than ours; they still love, raise families, work hard for what they have. After years in my own business, I stepped into the role of a teacher; this is something God was telling me all my life, but I was not listening. As a teacher, I became the richest man I know. I had students who enlisted their parents’ help to enter my honors classes. I had students who took more than one course with me. I have students who this day still stay in touch with me. Being a swim coach, I had a student who just winning a major race, leaped from the water, jumped up and hugged me, soaking wet. I had another student race into my classroom, give me a big hug, thanking me for supporting her when she doubted whether she could get the lead in the school play. She did.

When a student gave a speech to her class, and thanked me for all my help, my wealth was enormous. And, when I was voted the most popular teacher in the high school two years, back to back, I was as thrilled as any teenager who realizes success. I may not get paid as much as a bank president, or a government contractor. But, when I retired from teaching college literature, I was given two plaques honoring my service; the standard one from the college, and a second from the English department thanking me for all the individual help I gave ALL my students; I will rephrase that – ALL students; I had many students who were not in my classes asking me for help in writing their papers.

I have nothing that I covet from another person.

As I look at those I have met in my life, the happiest are those who are comfortable in their own skin. On the reverse side, those who are always trying to be better than others are not happy. I know men who divorce because they cannot stand that their wives make more money than they do. I have had other friends who have switched roles, the wife the breadwinner and the husband to home keeper. Who cares!

We are all meant to do a certain job in this life; the main job is not to please others. We must be happy with whom we are, happy with whom God has blessed with certain talents. I cannot question what a person does; I can only question if that person is walking the path of light that God has laid before him or her. If the path is correct for that person, it correct in the world around us.

While teaching in college, I had many male students who were studying to be a nurse. Some people question why a man would be a nurse; why not? I myself have many female doctors; my male friends ask if I am uncomfortable being examined by a woman. Why not? When I need a doctor, I don’t care if the doctor is male, female, black, white, a US citizen or a visiting doctor from South Sudan. He or she is there to help me get back on my feet. Just as God ordained me to be a teacher, God has ordained them to be doctors.

Thank God for diversity; thank God for each of us.

   We are blessed

 God blesses us as we walk along our separate paths, usually under great duress and temptation; He holds us close, so we know that what we do is not in vain, bur will profit those we meet. Remember this; it is our lifeblood for a world of peace and thanksgiving. John 1 starts with the word is God; if we follow the word, we walk in a world of grace, justice, and truth.  

 Our hope for the future lies in the light of God’s path. This blesses us with the ability to greet all people as equals and all creatures as worthy of our love. When we treat God’s poor with dignity and respect, all welcomed and embraced. Anything less is against God’s will. When we tire, the Lord strengthens us with His Spirit to help us imagine what His world is truly like.

 As children, we make mistakes; but God forgives us, because we are His children. So, we must not fret about small mistakes we make or small indiscretions. God loves us, forgives us, and those who also walk in His path will do the same. All we need to do is show our sorrow for the error and gratitude for the forgiveness, from both God and others.

 The Qu’ran states that we are made in the best of statures; the Bible says we are made in His image and likeness. Different words have the same meaning. We are children of God and therefore, as created by Him, we are perfect. Let us treat each other this way and glorify God, as we are glad to do. There is no I; there is only we.

 In Christianity, we recite the Lord’s prayer, almost too automatically. These are not just words. They are meant to convey a message to our inner selves about who we truly are. Instead of just reciting this prayer and we must), we should also wrap our life around this prayer to live the life of pray pleasing to God, and to us. Comfort, tranquility, and inner happiness is the reward. I believe it is a just reward.

 We cannot ignore what others may say in meanness, but it is our lot to forgive them and not show anger, which only worsens the situation. As I have aged, I find it easier to forgive people who have (offended) me; I now forgive them for their small indiscretions. By not belaboring what they may have said, I can live in peace and not be consumed by how wrong the other is. The other is also a child of God, and also makes small mistakes, as I do. God forgives us both; I must do the same.

 Does this make us a servant to all? Perhaps; Jesus did say the first will be last, and the last shall be first. I think about this every day.

 Bless you brothers and sisters. I love you all.

 Feeling Loneliness

 There are times when I feel abandoned by everyone: I feel that I am walking through life in a bowl of Jell-o and looking at life through a piece of cellophane paper; then I remind myself that I am never truly alone. The path I walk is filled with the light of God.

This morning, the words of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from the musical Carousel, came to mind. So, I decided to look at the lyrics thoughtfully this morning.

When you walk through a storm

Hold your head up high

And don’t be afraid of the dark.

At the end of the storm

Is a golden sky

And the sweet silver song of a lark.

Walk on through the wind,

Walk on through the rain,

Tho’ your dreams be tossed and blown.

Walk on, walk on

With hope in your heart

And you’ll never walk alone,

You’ll never walk alone. 

By changing just a few words, such as: instead of storm, use illness, depression, or troubles; and the, change the words “song of a lark” to the Love of God, the song takes a whole new tone. I will agree, however, that when Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote this, they may have had this same idea in mind.

Meditate a while on the prayer that these words truly convey to us.

They are beautiful.

When you walk through trouble

Hold your head up high

And don’t be afraid of the dark.

At the end of the storm

Is a golden sky

And the sweet silver Love of God.

Walk on through the wind,

Walk on through the rain,

Tho’ your dreams be tossed and blown.

Walk on, walk on

With hope in your heart

And you’ll never walk alone,

You’ll never walk alone.