I am all knowing, yet humble; not boisterous or loud
I am secure in my stead; not untrusting or jealous
I keep no scores of bad deeds; I’m forgiving….unrebellious
I am thankful for mine; of your’s I’m not envious
I don’t hold resentment to ferment my soul…
In-line with my spirit, it is compassion I hold!
I’m not judgmental; I allow others to be…
That which they are; so their souls might be free
Knowing we all are created from the same mighty force
Good, bad or indifferent; of the same Holy source!
I rejoice in the truth; refrain from deception…
Persevere with great hope, amid pain or rejection.
Not easily angered, remaining kind and protective…
Willing to look closely at life from another’s perspective.
I am the foundation of all Creation thereof…
I’m the most powerful, unfailing, Spirit of all
…I Am the Spirit of Love…
~Written by CordieB, Inspired by 1st Corinthian’s 13 and of course….. Love.
Quote for the Day: When I was a child, I talked like a child; I thought like a child; I reasoned like a child. As I grew, I put childish ways behind me. Then I saw but a poor reflection, as in a mirror. Now I see face to face. Then, I knew only in part. Now I know fully and I am fully known.
And now these three remain…
Faith
Hope
Love
But the greatest of these is…
LOVE
~1 Corinthians 13, The Bible
Another Quote: Knowing is realizing we don’t know it all ~CordieB.
Opening lines from Gregory David Robert’s Shantaram:
“It took me a long time and most of the world to learn what I know about love and fate and the choices we make, but the heart of it came to me in an instant, while I was chained to a wall and being tortured. I realized, somehow, through the screaming in my mind, that even in that shackled, bloody helplessness, I was still free: free to hate the men who were torturing me, or to forgive them. It doesn’t sound like much, I know. But in the flinch and bite of the chain, when its all you have got, that freedom is a universe of possibility. And the choice you make, between hating and forgiving,can become the story of your life.”
Quote for the Day: You can be so heavenly bound until you are no earthly good – Dr. Oscar Lane
“In the Course of One’s Life Time ” inspired by Simply Snicker’s Poetry Prompt. This weeks words were, climb, course, and craft. Let us keep Linda and the Midwest, USA, in our prayers, as she and her community have endured natural disasters due to flooding this week.
Away in a manger a long time ago…
a babe was born who longed to bring hope.
Three fourths of humanity worship the birth of this child
Yet, so few of us walk the path of the meek and the mild…
So few of strive to love our fellow man…
Though we hate and despise, we worship the Man
So often we use Christ life’s purpose in vain
So few of us love our neighbors as Christ so diligently taught
We’ve turned his his walk into commercialism; that can only be brought
In stores to perhaps give a temporary smile
to those who can afford it…perhaps for a while
While others lay hungry, homeless and poor
we bustle and hustle to all of the stores . . .
Stressing ourselves out to buy more, more and more
We walk into churches each Sunday for Christ’s Sake
pointing fingers at those who have lost all their faith
due to heartless believers who so often spur hate
and pay all our dues to for a religious retreat
yet somewhere a family is cold; abandoned, with nothing to eat
We speak of our Jesus with majestic love for the Man
never practicing that which He stood for– love for all humans
In fact we even practice hatred in His Holy name
and swear it is Christ-like to inflict such pain
Christ walked this earth to teach us to love
In hope that we not destroy humanity and the earth thereof
When will we practice the lessons taught by the babe who was born
in a manger to parents who were poor, ostracized and forlorn . . . ?
Let us remember the reason for the season by loving our neighbors and start treating others as we would have others treat us. Christ was about LOVE, PERIOD. All other agendas we may have are our own. Let us strive to keep this in mind this season and all seasons.
This is a reposting. . . with a little extra . . . I thought about this after reading Why Paisley’s, "An Ordinary Man."
—
You may try to escape me, but I will always be just a whisper ahead of you; You do not truly understand that I mean you no harm. I am your constant companion, through thick and thin, through triumphs and failures.
You and I are so closely woven, that not even the greatest love or lust can ever really permanently separate us; Our magnetism is so strong, that I will eventually find you and you will eventually find me.
You may desire to change me, to mold me into what you would have me to be. There are times you may think you’ve suceeded. However, in retrospect, you would only be fooling yourself;
My mysterious illusion may cause you to go through great lenghths in a futile attempt to find out exactly what I’m all about.
You may run in the opposite direction in an attempt to flee from me, but aha… I am still just a tad ahead of you! In your haste, you will certainly slam right into me.
You may have even seen a glimpse of me in a distant world, but my charisma is such, that you really couldn’t tell if it was in fact me. I saw your glimpse and awaited quietly for you to catch up.
I have cried for you and smiled for you. You are all that I have. In the realness of it all, I totally depend upon you, for without you I cease to exist.
You may hate me, love me or fear me. But usually, you treat me with total disregard. I simply want you to embrace me. However, when all is said and done, you will definitely accept me.
A young woman who is a member of the church that I attend off and on, one whom I’ve always admired and who speaks and carries herself so well, disclosed on Saturday that she is HIV positive. Although this bright young lady had testified on several occasions that she was diagnosed with a chronic illness; because she also spoke and made soaps for breast cancer awarenes, I assumed she was a breast cancer survivor or was in treatment for breast cancer. This beautiful, bright young lady, who is glowing with outwardly good health and youthfullness, had such a bright outlook and positive demeanor. . . She is truly an inspiration. Although she contracted the disease from a boy friend, who knowingly withheld his condition from her, she acknowledges total responsibility. She is often approached by young men for dates, phone numbers, etc. She tells each of these prospects that she is indeed HIV positive. There reaction is often a real wake up call.
Remind your friends, your children, and your love ones to never take chances with their lives – you can not determine a person’s condition from their appearance or actions: Wrap it Up! Also, get tested! It’s easy and painless. It only involves a simple saliva swab. You will want to know in order to start proper treatment and to ensure that you do not unknowingly pass on this potentially deadly disease. Life is beautiful and it is to be cherished by all. Pause, think about life and spread a little awareness around on AIDS Awareness Month. Encourage everyone to talk about the menace of HIV.
I’m lighting a candle for those who I know are HIV or AIDs victims. If you would like to place a candle for victims of HIV, feel free to add that person in the comments. I will place a candle to each name added.
Carlisa Ross (Departed November 2004)
Maurice Bell (Departed)
Lenny D’Amico
Joe D’Amico
Joe Masiell
Jeff David White
"He’s My Brother"
The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows where
But I’m strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.
So on we go
His welfare is my concern
No burden is he to bear
We’ll get there
For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.
If I’m laden at all
I’m laden with sadness
That everyone’s heart
Isn’t filled with the gladness
Of love for one another.
It’s a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we’re on our way to there
Why not share
And the load
Doesn’t weigh me down at all
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.
by Sidney Russell and Robert Scott, (C)1977 Harrison Music Corp., Jenny Music (ASCAP)
Normally, I stick to poetry or art, but every so often, I write an opinion/article. I had planned on writing a quasi-xrated poem today, but this morning after reading Angry African’s post on racism , I decided to speak out. So, blame AA for my writhing this post instead of the quasi-xrated poem I intended to woo you with today. In his post, AA admitted that he was a racist at one time, and didn’t even realize it. I prefer to use the word prejustice in AA’s situation, rather than racist. I think there is a difference . . . He gave us a scenario of how he passed up one hitchhiker without a second thought due their color, and thought about picking up another, because it was, perhaps, "a preferred color." AA did not say which color he preferred. I assumed when I first read this article that he gave more thought to picking up the white passenger than so the black passenger because AA is a white male. But after further reflection, I really don’t know, because he is also an activitist who may have felt more passion towards a black man than a white. I don’t know. I hope he never tells. The point is, racism is racism. Why is it that he felt compelled to pick up one more so than the other based solely on the color of their skin? AA challenged us to look at ourselves and admit to our own racisms. This is something that we do not communicate about in mixed race situations. Perhaps it is not PC to do so; perhaps we feel that we will offend someone. But unless we look our actions and our thought patterns then the cycle of racism will continue. Unless we selfexamine, we will not be compelled to eradiate these ignorant thoughts. So I said to self, "Self, how am I racist."
Racist Act No. One. I don’t consider myself to be racist, but I suppose I have preferences based upon color. Is that racist? I prefer relationships with black men; I’ve never been attracted to white men. Does that make me a racist? Perhaps yes. Because, truth be told, I’ve never ever considered trying such because of what’s been handed down to me by society, family and friends. Oh, I’m perfectly acceptable of others in mixed race relationships; I have many friends who are married to people of a different race. But me personally, I have never even given such a second thought. Period.
Racist Act No. Two. Now here is another form of racism I have, similar to that of AA’s maybe, maybe not. I’m walking down a dark street. On one side of the street are two white men in business suits, on the other are two black men with hoodies and baggy jeans. As a black female, which group would I feel more comfortable walking past? Answer – The white men in business suits. Crazy huh? Racists huh? True though. This is due to what I’ve learned; what I see, what I’m told by the media, not what I experience. My thought pattern has nothing whatsoever to do with the people themselves; as I don’t even know these people. I’ve never been mugged, I’ve never been raped. I usually walk past either without any interaction whatsoever. So what has given me this ignorant fear that I’d rather past two white men in business suits than two black men in hoodies and jeans. It’s simply ignorant. And, I have to consciously stop this train of ignorant thinking; because I’m passing on this bull to my daughters and sons, either consciously or unconsciously! A recent study showed that black women would prefer to pass individuals on the street by race and gender in this order – (1) black female (2) white female (3) white male (4) black male. The black male is last in the pecking order, even by the black female. Don’t you find that somewhat disturbing. I feel the same way, yet it is very, very disturbing. What have I allowed to sink into my head? What fears have manifested into my belief system? Wow!
The Irony of it All. Now even though I would not give a white male a second look in the prospect of marriage, I would rather pass him than a black male on a dark street! Ain’t that ignorant! Think about it!
Peace, Light and Love . . . CordieB.
P.S. Don’t tell anyone, but I thought that Angry African was a black man for weeks when I first started reading his blog – why?– Because he’s an Angry African Activitst!. I’d stereotyped him too. One day I looked up and I saw those beautiful piercing green eyes in the header and it was then that I looked deeper into what he was. Not that it should make a difference, right? Racism is pure ignorance! We need to check ourselves!
My kindred sister, LostWidow , wrote this piece a few days ago after reading a recent post which shared several writers’ verses relating to "self" and who we are . I was so touched by her writing that I asked her If I could share her beautiful poem with you here. She kindly said yes. . . I know you will find truth and insight in her words, as I did.
Happy
Carlisa Ross (Departed November 2004)
