Random musings on "Hope"

Dear Sisters and brothers,
it's yet again been a while since I've posted, now our elections have come and gone, and are now but an almost distant memory. even though the uber right-tea partiers claim to have "taken back America", My question is what have they taken it back to?
To a time where kids and young adults kill themselves because of being bullied by others because of their sexuality? To a time where fear is used as control to those who do not agree with them, and it's ok for a (now ex) school official to encourage gay kids to commit suicide? This is what the tea partiers and those who brainlessly follow them have as part of their list of things to bring America "back"?
Nevertheless...there is hope... NOT necessarily in politics nor politicians,
however, but in real hope...hope in that which we know to be God's Holy Spirit. Hope that opens doors,eyes and hearts to the hat mongering that is passing for Republican Agenda.
The Holy Spirit opening hearts and minds to see those using fear to manipulate the ignorance of those unwilling to learn and grow.
Hope is what encourages us to go on..knowing that there is or will be something better out there for us as GLBT people of faith. It's this faith, that we desperately need to pass on to our GLBT youth. In fact, we need to be that face of hope. For Hope.. real hope not political, not democratic nor republican, Hope that is Jesus himself,this is what people are searching for...this is who we need to be and show. WE are the face hands voice and HOPE of Jesus to others, especially those in pain and hurt and searching and confused. We need to be in direct contact with that Kingdom of God within us in order to show others they too can be a part of that kingdom. Where hate, or fear mongering or bigotry. Can you step up and say yes to hope? Say yes to the kingdom of God within? Others are dying for you to do so!
Blessings,
+Mel

Follow this blog

    Dear all,
It's been a while since I posted, but then again I never felt the need to post my every thought, only just what the Spirit compels me to write.
I was writing to a face book friend today, and had the need to add the word Baraka (blessings) at the end of my note. (he's Muslim).
I then looked up the word.. just to get a full sense of it's meaning.. and what I found was a wonderful surprise.
Not only does the word mean blessing, like Barak Obama's first name means..he was indeed a blessing to his parents..as all children are.
It also has a Sufi connotation...meaning breath of God! As in the Hebrew word Ruach. Which is a feminine word describing an aspect of God. It is comforting to know that our loving God breathes down blessings upon us, whether we ask or not.
Just one of those nice to know things in life that gives us an unexpected
uplift to our day and our spirit.
 I pray that these words have given you too that unexpected uplift of spirit, to help keep you focused on what's important.
Blessings all,
+Mel

Charter for Compassion

 This is something that as a Franciscan, I have to put on my blog to spread the word.
 Now I know there are some out there that read my blog, and will disagree with me adding this on here. The Gospel commands us to comfort the afflicted... and in doing so, afflict the comfortable.
Pax et Bonum,
 +Mel




The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.
It is also necessary in both public and private life to refrain consistently and empathically from inflicting pain. To act or speak violently out of spite, chauvinism, or self-interest, to impoverish, exploit or deny basic rights to anybody, and to incite hatred by denigrating others—even our enemies—is a denial of our common humanity. We acknowledge that we have failed to live compassionately and that some have even increased the sum of human misery in the name of religion.
We therefore call upon all men and women ~ to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings—even those regarded as enemies.
We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensible to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community.
http://charterforcompassion.org/