Propaganda versus wisdom.




Hi Pals:

 

Most of what I read and hear  (in newspapers, on the internet, on the radio and T.V. etc.) about life, politics, and current affairs is little more than propaganda  from the right wing and from what passes for a left wing.

In a like manner, many of the sermons I hear in various Churches are also rooted in dreary and deadly propaganda (rather than in  life giving "good news"). 

BUT THANK GOODNESS I can encounter truth from sources apart from the popular media and the compromised Church.

Here for instance is the wisdom of a nineteen years old man.   I knew him and his family when I was a Rector in Cambridge, MA.  Since those days (2000 - 2006) his family has lived through deep grief and trials; and has been blessed with wonderful wisdom and joy.

Here is some of his wisdom as expressed yesterday.



"It can be hard to stay motivated and positive in life, but I'll be damned if I let anything get in the way of who I want to be. I have to keep on moving forward, no matter how hard it gets... and sometimes that can feel impossible. Some things wear you down over time until you can't breathe anymore, and you just want to lie in bed and not do anything or see anyone... because you feel like none of it matters. You just can't convince yourself that its worth it to even get up. True emptiness, ...But that's the biggest lie in the world, because every single thing in life matters, because it's your life, and life is precious, and when you value your life and everything you do no matter how small and insignificant it may seem, it gives you so much more purpose.

I am so, so, so thankful that I have close friends and family that I can rely on when I'm going through tough times, that can help me "get out of bed" and put color and music back into my life. The very fact that other human beings care about me is enough to put a smile on my face at the end of the day, and gives life meaning to me... truly makes me feel whole again."

 

 

Love and thanks to you from your former pastor.    I will strive to learn from you.
Location: Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Shoe insults

Last year I consulted with a local podiatrist: Dr. Robert F Herbold Jr. D.P.M. 4717 Swift Rd., Sarasota , FL – 34231  because I was being bothered with a couple of bunions  (yes I am at that age). I was very impressed with this Doctor.  He agreed that I had bunions, but he ventured that it was much too soon for surgery. (Now there’s a first). Instead he recommended some “arch supports” to relieve the tension for my feet, a tension which was exacerbating the bunions. What’s more -  he told me that he sells these arch supports at the miserly sum of $2.50 each (about 1/5 of the price in the local pharmacies). He is an honest man, and I recommend him to anyone with foot problems. So, a couple of weeks ago, having purchased some new walking shoes, I knew that I needed to buy a couple of new arch supports I took myself to his office. Once there, my mind went blank. I wanted to ask his front desk Clerk if I could buy some “shoe inserts” , as I could not rem...
Read more

It began in Bristol U.K. "A man dies" and "Jesus Christ Superstar"

Image
I well remember the swirling controversy in Bristol, U.K. when a (Presbyterian) Minister the Revd, Earnest Marviin created a ":Rock Opera", called "A Man Dies"  in and for his congregation in the Lockleaze area of Bristol, U.K. Earnest Mrvin I was a sixteen years old member of the Plymouth Brethren Church back in those days, so I most likely disapproved of "A Man Dies" .  We, (the Plymouth Brethren),  disapproved of everything! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I had forgotten all about "A Man Dies" until earlier today when saw these pictures on the "Bristol, Then and Now"  Facebook page.   St. James Presbyterian Church, Lockleaze, Bristol  The Bristol Then and Now page includes the following commentary: Lockleaze, Bristol  -  'Jesus Christ Superstar' began at St.James (Presbyterian) Chur...
Read more

The background, the couple, my friends, the wedding ceremony, the Shaykh, the Priest,

Image
The background   I have known the Keller/Bonsey family since 2000 when I became the Rector at St. James's, Cambridge, MA. They (Elisabeth Keller and the Revd. Steven Bonsey with their four children Noah, Sam, Josiah and Annie) had come back to Cambridge from Hawaii where Steve had been the Rector of an Episcopal parish. Steve had just been appointed as a Chaplain at Tufts University (no Sunday morning duties) so the entire family was able to enrich our common life at St. James's - which they did with great love and joy. I count them as friends and have stayed in touch with them since my retirement.  Noah, the oldest son is eloquent in Arabic (he spent a year in Damascus when Syria was a safe place).  He has developed a super career as an analyst of social media in the near East.    Noah worked in Tampa for a while a few years ago, so he and I were a...
Read more