If we all remain civil things will change.
Civility has been reported to be declining.
It doesn't have to be, however.
We all can raise it up once more. Yes, by doing our part to be polite, courteous, helpful and concerned about others, civility will reign again.
A culture of cruelty is how we're being described for behavior these days.
We can be more.
And, better.
Mean and mean-spiritedness is hardly the way.
The "courtly" way of Francis of Assisi, Italy, and his courtliness is a value worth savoring daily.
For sure.
Practice made it perfect for centuries.
When did its decline begin?
Did it start with "no problem?"
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Monday, October 15, 2012
Savoring a Wet Walk
Tim Kane, a local pastor at Madonna and Saint Gregory Church near Oakman and Linwood, rode his bike Sunday, Oct. 14th, in the four-mile fund-raising trek for Focus:HOPE of Detroit. Kane presided at the funeral of the late co-founder, Eleanor Josaitis, who died in 2010 after steering the organization for over a decade when Father William Cunningham died.
Walkers recalled how Eleanor would hand out candy while walkers passed her on the walk.
She was missed, it was clear to many. Cunningham, a motorcylcle rider was also remembered by many for his passion as a Catholic pastor who made a difference for Detroit. Some even longed for impassioned leaders once more to guide the civil and human rights organization.
Founded in 1968 in the wake of civil unrest when dozens died, the outreach agency provides training for manufacturing workers, and, distributes food for seniors, mothers and infants.
Despite a rainy and wet Sunday afternoon and less than the anticipated 5,000 walkers, over $400,000 was raised to help serve the community, according to Steve Regan, outreach leader at Focus:HOPE.
A $300,000.00 check was presented to CEO William Jones, Jr., from Plastic Omnium.
A diverse group of metropolitan Detroiters, including children in strollers, young and old, multiple dogs, and more, marched in the four-mile trek to the tunes of the University of Michigan band.
Walkers recalled how Eleanor would hand out candy while walkers passed her on the walk.
She was missed, it was clear to many. Cunningham, a motorcylcle rider was also remembered by many for his passion as a Catholic pastor who made a difference for Detroit. Some even longed for impassioned leaders once more to guide the civil and human rights organization.
Founded in 1968 in the wake of civil unrest when dozens died, the outreach agency provides training for manufacturing workers, and, distributes food for seniors, mothers and infants.
Despite a rainy and wet Sunday afternoon and less than the anticipated 5,000 walkers, over $400,000 was raised to help serve the community, according to Steve Regan, outreach leader at Focus:HOPE.
A $300,000.00 check was presented to CEO William Jones, Jr., from Plastic Omnium.
A diverse group of metropolitan Detroiters, including children in strollers, young and old, multiple dogs, and more, marched in the four-mile trek to the tunes of the University of Michigan band.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Wise
I wonder when one is quiet.
Then I begin to question: Why is she or he quiet?
Or, I judge them.
To be wise is to be silent it seems.
Silent when unsure.
One is wise when she or he is is author of her or his own words.
They embrace their actions, their lives.
They own them selves.
For a long time, I depended on books and notes of others.
Then, I looked into my heart.
There I savored what I owned.
It was mine to give, to share.
Then I begin to question: Why is she or he quiet?
Or, I judge them.
To be wise is to be silent it seems.
Silent when unsure.
One is wise when she or he is is author of her or his own words.
They embrace their actions, their lives.
They own them selves.
For a long time, I depended on books and notes of others.
Then, I looked into my heart.
There I savored what I owned.
It was mine to give, to share.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Progress of Women
Women and men of various faith traditions will gather Sunday, Oct. 14 at 3 pm in the Isaac Agree Synagogue, 1457 Griswold, Detroit, 48226.
The progress of women fifty years since the start of the second Vatican Council in October of 1962 will be the topic addressed by Hindu leader, Renu Malhota, Lutheran minister, Diane Van Marter, Baptist minister Joyce Jones, Catholic religious leader, Mary Caroline Jonah, Harei Krishna leader, Antariksha Das, and Jewish rabbi, Dorit Edut. I will serve as moderator.
All are welcome to this free event. Over 2,500 Catholic bishops, among theologians and observers gathered at the historic conclave when Pope John XXIII called the Council that lifted blame for the death of Jesus on the Jews, and, the ancient Latin Mass was to be recited in the vernacular.
Contact mutzim@aol.com or (248) 556 6316, for more information.
The progress of women fifty years since the start of the second Vatican Council in October of 1962 will be the topic addressed by Hindu leader, Renu Malhota, Lutheran minister, Diane Van Marter, Baptist minister Joyce Jones, Catholic religious leader, Mary Caroline Jonah, Harei Krishna leader, Antariksha Das, and Jewish rabbi, Dorit Edut. I will serve as moderator.
All are welcome to this free event. Over 2,500 Catholic bishops, among theologians and observers gathered at the historic conclave when Pope John XXIII called the Council that lifted blame for the death of Jesus on the Jews, and, the ancient Latin Mass was to be recited in the vernacular.
Contact mutzim@aol.com or (248) 556 6316, for more information.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Love
It's that easy.
Yet, that hard.
We make love complex.
Even, disect it.
To keep loving, despite what happens.
To keep giving and forgiving, no matter what.
Love.
It's a crazy kind of thing, isn't it?
It's commitment, however, you look at it.
All the rest is commentary.
And, interpretation.
Love You Forever!
That book is a story of eternal loving.
Depsite.
Love you forever. . .
Everything else is commentary.
Has love been tried?
Yet, that hard.
We make love complex.
Even, disect it.
To keep loving, despite what happens.
To keep giving and forgiving, no matter what.
Love.
It's a crazy kind of thing, isn't it?
It's commitment, however, you look at it.
All the rest is commentary.
And, interpretation.
Love You Forever!
That book is a story of eternal loving.
Depsite.
Love you forever. . .
Everything else is commentary.
Has love been tried?
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Only Charity
For sure.
On this feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, Italy, I recall how he received a vision, he claims, to "rebuild my church," so, he went about patching, laying bricks, repairing roofs, I imagine, but, the voice repeated:
"Rebuild my church."
Francis got it. He bagan to rebuild with only love. God's version, Not his own. Or, anyone else's.
While people may condemn you, hate you, betray you or more, only God's love is the order of the day, no? When names come or criticism, or envy, or, any of the capital sins, for example, charity is the way to respond. Only love. All the rest is politics that gets us all into trouble and away from our God who is love!
Take, for example, a letter that went out to Jay McNally, a former editor of the diocese's paper, noting that I do interfaith work but in no way speak for the archbishop.
Love.
Where that letter originated, I'm unsure. That's OK. Why, it doesn't matter, does it?
After all, my "cryptic" assignment, as the beloved Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, calls it, was given by the AOD, MI. He knows Jesus' love, for us to follow, for sure, no?
Even though I wonder why Ned McGrath seems to fear a recent piece that Rabbit Edut and I wrote for The Oakland Press, I still love after the heart of Jesus the Christ. The lone way, truth, and life!
We all know that.
Maybe a reminder is all we need, as Seneca, the philospher, noted centuries ago. New information is unnecessary. A reminder of the scriptures and the Life who leads us works best!
God is love!
The rest is politics that I want to steer clear of since love is the recipe the master and Lord gives me.
Practice is what it takes. Daily. Now. And, always.
Love.
On this feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, Italy, I recall how he received a vision, he claims, to "rebuild my church," so, he went about patching, laying bricks, repairing roofs, I imagine, but, the voice repeated:
"Rebuild my church."
Francis got it. He bagan to rebuild with only love. God's version, Not his own. Or, anyone else's.
While people may condemn you, hate you, betray you or more, only God's love is the order of the day, no? When names come or criticism, or envy, or, any of the capital sins, for example, charity is the way to respond. Only love. All the rest is politics that gets us all into trouble and away from our God who is love!
Take, for example, a letter that went out to Jay McNally, a former editor of the diocese's paper, noting that I do interfaith work but in no way speak for the archbishop.
Love.
Where that letter originated, I'm unsure. That's OK. Why, it doesn't matter, does it?
After all, my "cryptic" assignment, as the beloved Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, calls it, was given by the AOD, MI. He knows Jesus' love, for us to follow, for sure, no?
Even though I wonder why Ned McGrath seems to fear a recent piece that Rabbit Edut and I wrote for The Oakland Press, I still love after the heart of Jesus the Christ. The lone way, truth, and life!
We all know that.
Maybe a reminder is all we need, as Seneca, the philospher, noted centuries ago. New information is unnecessary. A reminder of the scriptures and the Life who leads us works best!
God is love!
The rest is politics that I want to steer clear of since love is the recipe the master and Lord gives me.
Practice is what it takes. Daily. Now. And, always.
Love.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Pastor Stan Ulman on Vatican II's Historic Start 50 Years Ago
When I asked Stan Ulman about his experince of the ecumenical Vatican Council II, he noted:
"I only wish that I had paid closer attention to the Vatican Council while it was happening. Being in high school and college at the time, I related to those events academically, but not personally.
It was only later that I realized what a momentous event this was. It's not every day that your world gets turned upside down. Liturgy was the most visible thing to change and very often with much opposition or uncritical adaptation.
But, what was really changing was people's understanding of themselves as Catholics, their understanding of the world, and, the role of faith, relationships with other Chrisitans and non-Christians, the primacy of conscience in moral decisions, and, the servant role of those in charge.
This was all very confusing and liberating.
Today, some people are frightened by the implications of Vatican II and are willing to exchange its promise for the surety they think existed before Vatican II. This pursuit will give them neither."
(The Rev. Stanley Ulman is a pastor at Saint Mary of the Hills Church in Rocheter Hills, MI.).
"I only wish that I had paid closer attention to the Vatican Council while it was happening. Being in high school and college at the time, I related to those events academically, but not personally.
It was only later that I realized what a momentous event this was. It's not every day that your world gets turned upside down. Liturgy was the most visible thing to change and very often with much opposition or uncritical adaptation.
But, what was really changing was people's understanding of themselves as Catholics, their understanding of the world, and, the role of faith, relationships with other Chrisitans and non-Christians, the primacy of conscience in moral decisions, and, the servant role of those in charge.
This was all very confusing and liberating.
Today, some people are frightened by the implications of Vatican II and are willing to exchange its promise for the surety they think existed before Vatican II. This pursuit will give them neither."
(The Rev. Stanley Ulman is a pastor at Saint Mary of the Hills Church in Rocheter Hills, MI.).
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