May 10, 2017

Has anyone noticed that on Stephen Colbert’s late night show everyone raves every time he tells a joke about America’s president? I have never been to a show in NYC but I imagine that each night, there is a different group of people who make up the audience. So week after week, day after day, different people from across America delight in laughter and the idea that our government has become a farce and worthy of jokes.

I don’t have cable TV so I need to find some shows on YouTube, which is where I discovered Bill Maher and John Oliver. Both are great and make me laugh while they hyperbole the truth. I know they can be raunchy at times, but I am an adult and can handle it. Personally, I tend to be too serious, so to me, a great laugh is a treasure and even better with irony and truth mixed in.  I think laughter can drive home the real truth better than serious news shows.

As for John Oliver. It was one of his shows about American elections where I learned that my vote probably wasn’t counted. The reason? Cross checking, which is considered legal. If you have a common name, the Secretary of State, can throw out your vote. So my vote probably was not counted. I don’t know why everyone is silent about this problem. It bothers me greatly.

Another problem is Net Neutrality. As John Oliver said, it is a dull subject, but important. He gave us a link so we could comment: www.gofccyourself.com. When I got to the government web page, it looked confusing. I learned that you need to press ‘express,’ as in express yourself, then after printing your name in the correct box, you need to press enter. The rest of the input information is reasonable. My only comment was “Keep the net free. We need Net Neutrality” I kept it simple because I wasn’t sure it would work. It did.

Let’s keep our government honest and free

5/13/17

One explanation for today’s political mess that is often forgotten is that we are in a war between good and evil, a battle for hearts and souls, a war that was predicted thousands of years ago.

Jesus said that in later times, “Hearts will grow cold.”

Oddly, where I live, in Detroit, amid ordinary people who work and cut lawns and go to church, hearts are still warm and have not grown cold. I suspect this is true in most areas of America. So I surmise evil has seeped heavily into the top echelons of government and trickles down only into those few who accept it. The more I learn about politics, the more I learn there are more criminals in the upper levels of government then on our streets.  

Regardless, we people are the “Salt of the earth.” It is for us to hold on to values and truth. Like the grass we mow down each week, we keep raising our heads high, keep growing, and keep marching.

With this idea on my mind this morning, I carried God light down from the mountain and spread it in wide swaths to heighten the inner goodness of people, to give them and myself strength to hold on to the values we know to be true. I met so many people in that path who smiled and shared in the golden glow that I don’t have room here to mention them all, but a few stick to my mind.

One young lady was in a wheelchair who willingly joined us. I watched as the light spread out from her center and flowed outward like waves upon a pond. She realized this was a gift given to her by God to help her share love with people without leaving her residence.

Another older women was sitting down on a chair but kept taking notice of the light around me just as I took notice of the light that surrounded her. Through God we recognized ourselves as kindred spirits.

By the time the rosary was over, I felt good within myself, relaxed, and thankful that Jesus had given me this small job of sharing God light with other people. Here in the trenches of ordinary life we will not lose our flavor, kindness and love will continue.

5/14/17

We have begun to realize that in biology, everything on our world is intertwined. We live in a biological system where every part depends on every other part, to change, replace, or kill off any kind of life can affect the world in more ways than we know. What we still haven’t come to grips with yet is that this system has a soul. Facts say we live on a round rock in space but I think there is more to it than that. I think Gaia is the soul of earth. Gaia is an actual working concept that implies that earth tries to heal itself and this becomes more important every day. People who live close to the land have accepted that earth has a soul for eons. It is only us in the west who lag behind in understanding.

I think it is time we opened ourselves to the possibility that there is more to this world and the life upon it than scientific fact tells us. But then, quite a large number of people still argue against scientific facts or, in the opposite direction, still argue that humans don’t have a soul because it can’t be measured and quantified. I don’t know how to prove otherwise, I just know that our world and everyone in it has a soul. Maybe I’ll come up with an example soon of why I am so sure we have a soul… Still thinking.

Iris from garden last year

5/17/17

I accept that maybe people elected our current president because they wanted a businessman to run things, perhaps better than politicians had done for too many years. And on the surface it would seem that business leaders (CEO’s) do better at running companies. Yet, there is a reason they do such good work--selfishness. A business or corporation is all about the bottom line. So I ask: Is this a proper goal for any nation? A nation is made up of and composed of citizens with multiple needs, not board members with their pockets waiting to be filled. And here we get to the crux of the real problem in America:  Greed—Greed has taken over the nation’s politics instead of more honorable pursuits.

Prosperity can be good for individuals and nations when it isn’t carried to extremes. Wealth can give certain people and groups incentive to invent and create, or so they think. But is money the only reward worth grabbing for? Is it really necessary? Won’t a person or group who aims to invent keep pushing even if pride is their only reward or a pat on the back? The same holds true for creativity. Artists create whether for profit or not. In fact, most people, even without the element of greed in the equation would continue pushing through life, and likely with more happiness than before.

An unusual painting by me. I don’t often paint flowers, but this one was dancing.

A modern people should do away with the craving for wealth. This is why I chose to back a progressive agenda that would tax heavily for the purpose of giving people a free education, health benefits, and repaired infrastructure. This would be a beginning and promise of providing basic needs to all people in the country.  I believe in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. I want all people to be given the chance to rise to their best creative ideas and inventions through pride, not greed.

I work for a small business and can see how important is for them to keep producing. Small businesses supply most of the jobs in our nation. A business has a product or application to sell and this can be a good balance. At the opposite end, a corporation has nothing to sell, it’s only reason for existence is to gather in profit. Somehow we need to change the mindset of people from craving excessive wealth and power to a mindset of hope in pride. If we don’t, we will soon wind up, like the angels have told me, hardly able to survive as a people and will finally be driven to live underground. This is a warning of what is likely to happen if we continue on as usual.

Warnings don’t work, but hope and dream might. If we put a hefty tax on gasoline and corporations, we will move in the direction of a change in goals. Instead of money having the ultimate bragging rights we will find that pride in accomplishment has far more lasting value. Such a lofty goal has the ability to carry us into a future of ever expanding knowledge and adventure.

5/26/17

Watching my grandson during the confirmation ceremony in a Catholic mass reminded me of Satan. The Catholic Church asked the children who were receiving confirmation “Do you renounce Satan?” For myself, I keep trying to find excuses for not believing in a Satan. Most often these excuses don’t work well. True, modern psychology can explain very well the defects and causes of humans who have gone horribly bad, but so can the existence of a being who is against the betterment of humanity, a being who uses human minds to achieve its own backward purpose. Unfortunately, the evidence for such a being infecting human minds grows stronger each day, but I am not going to dwell on this subject often because I am determined to continue thinking of the good things in life.

What I really want to say is that I should take a leaf of wisdom from the Dalai Lama and Pope Francis who both seem to concentrate on the good in the world and keep smiles going no matter what. I believe that they are the two representatives spoken of in Revelation because both religions have sort of died and come back recently. We would all do well to emulate their character. With this thought in mind, I intend to begin writing more about hope than despair.

Which brings me to this lush, growing greenery outside my window and doors. Can anything be more wonderful than a dewdrop rolling down a long iris leaf, or sitting as a round sky mirror on a flower petal or a small yellow bee as it flits from rose to rose, or a child’s innocent smile because they only see a world of joyous renewal. One day, if I can find the time, I hope to go back to writing poems once more. My personality has renewed itself in these later years and a written poem is always a new creation. I wonder what wonders I will find within myself as I write new words of poetry.

5/27/17

This morning just before meditation I realized once again my ability to call out to people to join us on God’s golden mountain is a beautiful gift and it is up to me to use it wisely and appropriately. This is what I strived to do this morning as I climbed, or floated, up the sides of the mountain. After gathering with the others, I stepped down and began inviting other people to climb the mountain with the understanding that those called will call other people. In this way, the movement will grow.

The first person I went to was a black man sitting on a chair with crutches next to him. I touched him on the shoulder and invited him to join our gathering on the mountain. The next person I went to was a well-dressed large lady who smiled willingly at the invitation. Next I went to an angry black man who I hugged to help remove his distress but I didn’t invite him to the mountain yet.

I have often wondered what draws me to certain people. I think the angels direct me to those who have a mature understanding of our world. But oddly, the next person I went too was a dark skinned young teenage boy. It seemed to me that Jesus had called him to become someone special and he was ready and eager to walk with me up the mountain. I went to an older white lady holding a rosary and to a very, big women who seemed sad but seemed to hear my call and perked up at the invitation.

If these people continue to grow, they will be able to reach out and touch other people to invite them up the mountain. I called those who I had touched during other meditations and those Jesus and the angels had touched to join the gathering this day atop the golden mountain. Once there, God fills each of us with so much golden light that we overflow with such love that we must step back down the mountain to share it with other people. And so the movement will continue and grow.

I liken it to a priest touching the emotions and thoughts of the people during mass or the words of other religious leaders reaching out to people during a service. These movements seem to be growing as well. I didn’t feel the need to teach about climate change or that we should love each other because I am sure the people already understood these things were important. At the end of my meditation I asked Jesus if it had went well. He nodded his agreement. With this in mind, I feel well prepared to begin my day.

Jupiter

5/27/17-Travel with Jesus

This evening three of us followed Jesus to two different planets, a normal and earthlike planet, we had been to once before and an odd and strange planet we hadn’t seen until this visit. The first planet was homesteaded by a group of monks who joined together from different religions. I assume that they were from earth’s far future and had decided to settle a planet together. The result seemed to be a perfect, open air monastery sitting in a mild, temperate zone.

As spirit beings, we stepped onto their world and then walked through a garden of green and luscious looking plants. A few monks wearing brown robes were bent over rows of growing vegetables. One monk had his sleeves rolled up and he was humming. Then another monk joined in as they both kept working. I don’t know if they could see us or not, but their leader did see us and came out from a roofed open space and came over to greet us. He was all smiles when he saw Jesus’ spirit.

He was wearing a maroon robe like the Buddhist have worn for a centuries. He seemed delighted to show us around at all that they had brought forth. They had felled trees and built a wooden over-hang over a large area that had tables, benches and chairs inside. A few other cabin like buildings lay further away near a wooded area. In the front of this large room, the leader showed us a large, flat viewing pool. I remembered this from our last visit because it is so distinguishable and beyond our current ability. It is where they communicate with other planets and the small groups who share this planet.

The pool was blue and still and seemed like nothing to use for communication. The leader assured us that they keep up with the latest news but seldom get involved. Their whole purpose in coming to this planet was to live their own lives in contentment and prayer, away from the complexities of earth.

Certainly, each person I saw looked very content and happy. I saw one chair that was intricately carved and realized that one of the monks must have worked hard and long on that chair. It seemed imbued with love. The leader saw me admiring the chair and said that one of their flock designed and carved the chair and that it would be sent off world. They also send some food back to earth, but most of it is for their own use.

I remembered a special book from the last time we visited and said I would like to see it again. So we walked past the garden to a small alcove with a hard floor and surrounded by a half wall of rocks. A pedestal sat in its center with the book open to the sky and weather. I wondered at this, but was told that weather would not harm the book. On closer inspection I could see why not. The book wasn’t made out of solid paper, but seemed more like a hologram, as if the words and pages floated above the books cover. The leader explained that it is a record of all the sacred texts of every religion. They have another place where they keep the records of their progress on the planet.

I thought it strange that this small group should be allowed to inhabit such a wondrously mild planet all to themselves. The leader told me that there were a few other groups scattered over the planet. I thought of the peace here and wondered if this planet would ever get crowded like earth. Jesus smiled and told me that it would not, that earth is different. He didn’t tell me why earth was different but I can guess. The leader explained that the aura around this planet will keep it holy. Strong upsets and other disastrous emotions are kept at bay.

“It will never get crowded like earth,” he told me.

Another member of the group, wearing a short, brown robe, showed us the goat like animals who roam freely in an area to the side of the garden. There wild flowers were growing and the goat-like creatures seemed to love them. He pointed to a wooden pen where the goats are kept at night in case a larger animal should get past their mental barrier. This monk told us that they found some new types of vegetables here that they could grow and eat. This can be dangerous because they don’t have the history of folklore to teach them what not to eat. So they watch the native animals for what seems to be safe.

We walked to the side near green grass and he showed us a huge white flower and said it is large because a small dark bird lives in the middle of it, where we would expect stalks and nectar. The birds make their homes and nests inside the huge flower. He showed us more flowers, tiny blue ones shaped like stars. This place seemed as close to a paradise planet as any group could want. The leader assured us that the weather here was tame and the rains gentle.

We said our goodbyes and followed Jesus as he stepped off the planet. I should mention that we learned that the monks can walk or travel in spirit like Jesus and we were doing, but seldom did because they have no wish to leave and go anyplace. Also, on the last visit to this same monastery, we met female monks but did not see any children. They may be part of different groups.

The new planet we stepped onto to visit was opposite in every way to the last one. Instead of a feeling of freshness and the color of greens and blues, this planet was silver white and gray. The first life I saw on the planet looked like a white blob, or misshapen potato filled with air. It looked like a gray balloon that had been squeezed together in the middle and tied with a string and bow. It also had wider strings or tentacles trailing down onto a hillside of various sized rocks.

The whole landscape was made up of huge hills of large rocks and stones. I looked into the vast distance beyond the hills and saw groups of white balloon like beings floating in the air, each with a few tentacles trailing down. Close by there were numerous other whitish blobs holding onto large rocks. It looked like their hanging tentacles, a few to each blob, had a sticky substance because they clung to the rocks easily. Some blobs floated inches off the ground while others swayed higher aloft. As we watched, one white blob let out some gas and moved towards a low mound, reached it tentacles out and grabbed at a rock to cling to. There it stayed.

As for the color, the whole scene was bleak by our standards. The sky was silver with some gray and pink tinge and most of the gas beings were white to gray. We watched one blob get deflated by a dark turtle-like creature. It began eating liquid from inside the balloon being. Another turtle-like creature ran fast over a rocky hill.

The only color I saw besides various shades of white and gray was one long reddish black streak on the ground. Jesus told us that it was old strata. Then I noticed various streaks in other places, some pinkish and even dull yellow. The problem with these visits are that we only see a small area, so I don’t know what other places on the planet might look like.

As we were leaving, Jesus explained that this planet was not a place humans would ever choose to settle. I assumed from this that it must be a gas planet like our own Jupiter, though simpler. Our travel this day had been strange and interesting. I hope to travel again with Jesus soon.