The Depths of Truth

The Depths of Truth

Truth is unity that expresses itself

At micro and macro levels 

All things and beings

Are interrelated and interdependent 

This reality is fundamental

To every community, society, and culture 

So people depend on labels - book, pen, car, pig, cow,

Food, drink, ocean, lake, river, mountain, valley, house, etc; 

Dimensions – line, triangle, pyramid, cube, oblong, sphere, etc;

And dualism – true/false, long/short, happy/sad,

 Hot/cold, wet/dry, tall/short, Chinese yin/yang, etc,

 As they journey in this world 

And use their five senses –

Sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch to do so

“Ultimate Reality, help us to understand the depths of truth more fully that we may live authentic lives.”

Amen

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The Supreme Light

The Supreme Light

Light is a pure reality. 

It has no distractions,

And is the ultimate in fulfillment 

It symbolizes the Eternal Essence of the Universe,

And refers to the Oneness of God, Allah, Brahma, and Dao 

The teachings of faiths show

Believers ascending towards this Supreme Light 

The sacred texts, saints, gurus, priests, rabbis, and imams

Teach about love to embrace this reality. 

These themes are prominent in the Holy Scriptures, Hebrew Bible,

Talmud, Old and New Testaments, Koran,

Vedas, Upanishads, and other canonical books 

But these scriptures all refer to the Supreme Light

In uniquely different ways 

The monotheistic religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islamic beliefs

Teach how believers could achieve eternal life in Heaven. 

Eastern faith traditions explain the role of karma –

What believers sow they will reap in the afterlife 

Their reality comes in the form of various stages of rebirth

In achieving the Oneness of Hinduism’s Brahma,

Or nirvana in Buddhism

“Ultimate Reality, help us to be guided by this all-encompassing light.  Let your light enlighten our hearts and minds.”

Amen

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Live with Compassion

Live with Compassion

People must love in humility.  By so doing they will find personal freedom, comforting joy, while caring for others on their spiritual journey.  These are qualitative moments because they will be embracing their true life’s calling.  With pureness of living they will be like missionaries in a flourishing garden.  Henri-Frédéric Amiel (1821–1881), a Swiss moral philosopher and critic said, “There is no respect for others without humility in one’s self.”  This could be achieved by having an open mind about love.  However it’s wise to live under God’s protection while engaging with others in the community.

James A. Baldwin (1924–1987), a novelist, essayist, and playwright wrote, “The question which one asks oneself begins, at least, to illuminate the world, and becomes one’s key to the experience to others.”  With this self-introspection people have to be free from guilt by having inner freedom.  Christians experience the joys of evangelizing and touching lives.  It’s the Holy Spirit within us as we express our God-given gifts to people.  This message is found in the abiding truths of his Word.  It bears witness to believers’ affairs as they live.

A Quiet Joy

To be faith-filled means experiencing a quiet joy.  Most Christians are happy people who show their happiness to those they meet.  They sing praises, shine forth their light, and are excited about life.  By being touched by the supernatural hand of God they have lives of abundance.  These blessings come by prayer and perseverance in their daily lives.  Albert Einstein (1879–1955), a German-born theoretical physicist wrote, “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.”  A Christian’s belief is in faith. He or she puts their thoughts in actions and works.  Aesop (620 BC–564 BC), an ancient Greek fabulist said,” “Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.” Christian believers live by giving thanks, and praise to God for his blessings.

St. Teresa (1910–1997), a Roman Catholic religious missionary said, “Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.”  St. Teresa and the Sisters of Charity found great joy by working with the poor.  Their mission continues to be a witness to the poor people of everyday life.  They knew human frailties and are willing to do their best to relieve suffering.  Sisters of Charity brought dignity to forgotten people, and their main focus wasn’t only the downtrodden, but exploited people.  To these sisters money and power are false idols, and their answer was to live simply.  The distribution of material wealth to the least among them mattered.  This was what they taught about compassionate living.  By performing such deeds Christians are contemplative.  Max Lucado (b. 1955), a bestselling Christian author and preacher said, “The meaning of life.  The wasted years of life.  God answers the mess of life with one word: ‘grace.’”  In the end it isn’t the dirt and squalor, deprivation, or laws, but God’s ‘grace’ that means everything.

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Independence Day (U.S.A)

Independence Day (U.S.A)

It’s July 4^th

Let’s celebrate this special day

For it’s the day of America’s Independence

So let us be mindful

To thank God for these blessings

Sadly our beloved nation

Is impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic

There’s civil unrest

As Black Lives Matter takes to the streets

Protests have arisen over Confederate monuments

But with all these problems

Let Americans reach out compassionately

To heal these afflictions in our land

America’s Independence was first proposed

By Richard Henry Lee of Virginia

That led to the declaration of Independence from Great Britain

From that time on there were celebrations

But now with social problems in our land

People are wearing masks, practicing social distancing

And there will be limited fireworks, and gun-salutes

To commemorate this special day

But the spirit of the nation lives on

“God, continue to guide America.  Let’s glorify her achievements.  And let the nation’s universal goals embrace freedom for all – young, old, male, female, black, white, religious, and non-religious with equanimity for all people including LGBTQ+.  Regardless, let American creed, color, national origin, and beliefs help us to be beacons of hope in the world.”

Amen

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LGBTQIA

LGBTQIA

The letters - LGBTQIA

Means Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender,

Queer or Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual or Allied

But why fuss over who they are?

In all ways they are unique

They come in the same colors –

Black, white, brown, yellow, and red

In races in every country

They live in our communities –

Towns, cities, villages, or the suburbs

Dwelling in homes, apartments, igloos, or huts

LGBTQIA enjoy similar foods –

German, Italian, Chinese, Spanish, African, or Native American

And worship in Churches, Mosques, Temples, or Synagogues

But their beliefs differ based on who they are

Still they are just as devout and patriotic

Like those who are themselves straight

So let’s stop looking only at differences

And honor our similarities

Let’s reach out with love and compassion

To those who some people tend to demonize

For LGBTQIA are born this way

And although different they have similar beliefs

God in all his wisdom

Have made them the way they are

“Divine Protector, let’s celebrate our diversity by giving thanks for your creation. Help us to live in peace with all men and women in the world.”

Amen

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Discussing Race Relations with Our Son Matthew

Discussing Race Relations with Our Son Matthew

Your mom and I appreciate having the opportunity in discussing race relations in America.  One thing you said that triggered this note that I must clarify.  It was in reference to my statement that I got jobs because I was black.

Saying this I don't mean to imply that my positions at universities were any way inferior to whites or other races.  I work hard studying at the universities I attended.  I earned my degrees like everyone else.  I recognized that I was competing with many other brilliant students.  Some were more talented than me.  Nevertheless I always had a good self esteem.  I considered being black a gift, and was happy that I was born in Georgetown, Guyana.

In America I was considered a foreign black.  This designation was never derogatory to me.  I was always proud of my heritage.  You see I came to America at the right time.  Barriers were being broken down in the 1960’s with the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War.  It was at a crucial time and the place to be, and your mother and I greatly benefited from these changes.  Rest assured that we were protected by living mainly in campus communities where students were more liberal.

But your mother and I always thought about our future, and we found our dream in living lives as educators.  We also had many good friends that were always willing to support us.  So undoubtedly living in the United States was a great blessing.  We never did anything stupid since we were an interracial couple.  This was so wherever we lived whether it was in Eugene, New York City, Oswego, Milwaukee, Columbia, or Virginia Beach.

In spite of the civil rights unrest that raised its head throughout these 50 years of our marriage we were still able to persevere and live safely.  Our only real difficulty was when I suffered from manic depression that nearly cost our marriage.  But all in all we have always empathized with the poor and downtrodden.  Your mom does a great deal of charitable work that I admire.  To this day every month I send hundreds of dollars to help out my family members in Guyana.  As I have said that in the time of crises we could only do so much.  All of us have to play our part in making this world better.  Thanks for all you and Shannon are doing.  Keep up your work for greater social change so that all lives in this nation would continue to improve.  God bless!

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Holy, but Dirty Water

Holy, but Dirty Water

Holy, but dirty water might kill religious believers

When they emerge themselves

In the Jordan River to be baptized

Or, take a dip in the Ganges River

As part of their ceremonial rite

Many people might be unaware

That these waters are polluted

They are filled with human waste, and chemicals

From agricultural and industrial products

This is the case of the Jordan River

That flows southward through northern Israel

Where Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist

The same is true for India’s Ganges River

That flows from the Himalayas

Where there’s raw sewage,

And remains of cremated corpses,

Chemical dyes from tanneries,

And animal carcasses

Yet Hindus fulfill their religious duties

For ritual purity, by emerging themselves in these waters

Infectious diseases could be spread

Through such contaminated waters

Like typhoid, cholera, paratyphoid fever,

Dysentery, jaundice, and malaria,

By chemicals, pesticides, nitrates, lead, and arsenic

These pollutants are all dangerous

To our nervous system and could even cause cancer

“Eternal One, help believers to be wise by safeguarding their health for God might bless them, but not prevent illness, or death.”

Amen

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